Man Utd did something Harry Kane didn't expect in transfer talks before Bayern disaster

Manchester United entered the 2023 summer transfer window with Harry Kane as Erik ten Hag’s priority transfer target in search of building on a successful first season. The stars aligned as he entered the final 12 months of his Tottenham Hotspur contract, and a move to Old Trafford looked on the cards.

However, by deadline day, Kane was Bayern Munich’s new frontman,

and United had invested in their future rather than the present.

Kane’s exit after a record-breaking Tottenham Hotspur career was no surprise. He reached his thirties without a sniff of silverware despite establishing himself as one of the world’s best goalscorers.

But his departure from the Premier League, two years after a £100million move to Manchester City collapsed, did raise eyebrows.

For such a talented player to lift no trophies throughout his career, his sights were thought to be set on the biggest individual achievement for a Premier League striker – breaking Alan Shearer’s goal record.

The Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers legend’s tally of 260 remains unmatched, but Kane has 213 to his name and would’ve likely only needed two more seasons to enter the history books.

That angle made United’s interest all the more prominent. Kane and Tottenham may have hoped the club characteristically did whatever it took to seal a deal.

Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports

Just one year prior, the Red Devils spent the entire summer chasing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong after Ten Hag identified a reunion as a top priority. An £85m agreement was struck, but the player said no.

In recent years, the £80m deal for Harry Maguire, £86m for Antony and £70m for Casemiro helped form the club’s previous regime’s reputation for mediocre negotiation skills.

You couldn’t blame Kane – who was reportedly open to joining – for expecting United to do the same for him.

But early indications showed that Daniel Levy was strongly reluctant to hand Spurs’ most prized asset to a Premier League rival, and that it would take a nine-figure fee to secure his services.

So United did what Kane and Spurs didn’t expect by walking away early and later signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £72m.

That opened the door for Kane to complete an £86m move to Bayern, where he was almost guaranteed to end his career-long trophy drought.

However, incredibly, he’s going to have another year. Wednesday’s last-gasp Champions League semi-final defeat against Real Madrid confirmed Bayern’s first trophyless season since 2011/12.

Meanwhile, United are on course to endure their worst-ever Premier League campaign and Kane contributed to an early Champions League exit.

But Ten Hag will take his side into a third final in two seasons on May 25, when Wembley will host a second successive derby battle for the FA Cup. A shock win would make Kane’s fortunes all the more unbelievable.