Harry Kane is one of FC Bayern’s most important players. Since his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, the English national team player has become a key contributor for the German record champions. But the story could have unfolded quite differently. As Erik ten Hag now reveals, the then-manager of Manchester United was determined to sign Kane. The Dutchman even holds his former employer partly responsible for the transfer falling through.
In the summer of 2023, Bayern engaged in an intense transfer battle for Kane. After weeks of negotiations, the Munich club finally reached an agreement with Tottenham on the striker’s transfer.
It was already known that Manchester United also had a strong interest in the England national team captain. However, the extent to which ten Hag actually went in his efforts is only now becoming clear.
“I only wanted one player”
In an in-depth interview with The Athletic, the former United coach looked back on his time in Manchester and also spoke about the failed Kane transfer. “I told them: I only want one player—and you know who,” ten Hag explained, referring to his discussions with club officials at the time.
For the Dutchman, Kane was his top target. He wanted to build his entire offense around the striker. “I fought for it. And I heard that he was very open to the idea, but I never spoke to him about it myself,” ten Hag revealed.
Particularly interesting: A move to Manchester United was apparently by no means ruled out in principle for Kane. However, negotiations with the striker’s representatives were conducted exclusively by officials from the English record champions.
Ten Hag says he still doesn’t know exactly why an agreement ultimately fell through. “They came to that conclusion. I don’t have insight into the financial details,” the 56-year-old explained.
Ten Hag Blames Himself Partly for the Failed Kane Transfer
Looking back, the former United coach is convinced that Kane could have made a decisive difference for his team. “I believe that a club like United needs this type of player to be successful,” ten Hag emphasized.
For him, it wasn’t just about the striker’s athletic qualities, but also his personality and leadership skills. “They have personality; they’re mature and responsible,” the Dutchman said of experienced top players.
Instead, Manchester United signed several young talents at the time who still had to prove themselves at the highest level. “We signed five or six young players with potential, but they weren’t a finished product. They needed the help of good professionals like Kane, Rice, and Bruno Fernandes,” ten Hag criticized.
In his view, the failed transfer was therefore also a factor in his later problems in Manchester.
At FC Bayern, these comments are likely to be met with satisfaction. After all, Kane developed into one of Europe’s best goal scorers in Munich.
Just in the recent 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig, the 33-year-old played his 100th Bundesliga match and scored his 102nd goal in the process.
Ten Hag’s revelations show once again just how sought-after Kane was in the summer of 2023—and what a difference his decision to join FC Bayern made.