Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy claimed that Erik Ten Hag wanted three other strikers before he signed Rasmus Hojlund for £ 72 million at the start of last season.
McCarthy said that Old Trafford chiefs were asked to sign Harry Kane, Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen before they settled on the young Dane from Atalanta. Hojlund has so far only scored twice in the competition this season and has just found it 16 times in his debut campaign in all competitions.
“Harry Kane was Erik's No1 target. Erik really wanted him. Kolo Muani was also very high on that list. Victor Osimhen was also on that list. But I felt that if you want to spend that kind of money – £ 100 million plus – then you want a complete package, “McCarthy told Ladbrokes.
But what happened to those three attackers?
“In the summer of 2023, Harry Kane was our number 1 target,” said McCarthy, who left United as a coach in 2024.
“Kane was the most important target, but the price tag was clearly a problem. Because he would have left Spurs for United, a few extra million pounds were added to the price tag, that, you know, for a 30-year-old was not considered wise.
“But for £ 100 million, if you look at it now, you would say it would have been worthwhile because he went to Bayern and he still produces, he still scores. So you think we just had to have bitten the bullet and had got Harry Kane and then also tried to invest in Rasmus Hojlund.
“That would have been the best for Rasmus if he had involved someone like Harry Kane. So yes,
“Harry Kane was the complete package for me. But unfortunately the club didn't see it that way. They looked it as Rasmus Hojlund, in the long term there would be a more appreciated property than investing in both Rasmus and Harry Kane. So we stopped haunting Kane, and in the end we only got Rasmus. “
Bayern said they paid £ 82 million to sign the captain of England from Tottenham and he has collected an unprecedented 73 goals in 75 performances for the Bundesliga Giants.
The attacker of France has completed the past 18 months. He is now at Juventus who was signed at Paris Saint-German last month.
Kolo Muani had only scored twice for the French side in the first half of the campaign that was also sent to Eintracht Frankfurt last season.
“I think they could have go for someone else, like a player who was presented when I was there: Randal Kolo Muani,” McCarthy continued. “Muani is only 26, but he is very experienced. He played in the World Cup final.
“He has that appearance about him wherever he wants to achieve things. I thought he would have been someone who would have been really good for man United because he is not shy to work hard. He works tirelessly and he knows where it The goal is to be an ideal player.
Nigeria Spits is on loan in Istanbul Club, where 19 times in 24 games were scored, after he had fallen with the Napoli hierarchy, despite the fact that they accompanied the Serie A title.
He was also associated with a large money movement to Chelsea after a deal with Al Ahli from the Saudi Pro League collapsed.
Expect to make a permanent move from Naples this summer, but the asking price will be heavenly high.