Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag reveals the reason why Man United failed to sign their top transfer target Harry Kane during the summer transfer window

Because Manchester United can’t get their top summer goals, like Kane, the manager says it will slow down their rebuilding project.

Erik ten Hag revealed that he tried to sign Harry Kane but failed in the summer. He said that Manchester United’s inability to get their top targets will delay their plans to win the title in the future.

Manchester United wanted to sign Kane the most this summer, but they had to look elsewhere after Tottenham turned them down before he went to Bayern Munich. The club wanted to make a long-term investment, so they agreed to pay £72 million for Rasmus Hojlund, a 21-year-old scorer from Atalanta.

Under Ten Hag, United spent more than £400 million over two summers. This meant they didn’t have much room to move players in January because of Premier League spending limits.

Ten Hag said he was upset that he couldn’t spend money in the winter of 2023, and then he missed out on Kane, his first choice move, in the summer. The Dutchman says he has had to come to terms with not being able to get top players while he is in charge.

“The expectations are so high at this club that they can only have great players,” he told Sky Sports. “Everyone has something to say about Manchester United, and the players must be great.”

“Every game means a lot to people, and you can only live up to that expectation if you have those great players.” In the last ten years and during this time, we haven’t always been able to get the stars we wanted.

“But then you have to build, and you have to be okay with getting talented players instead of ones who have already proven themselves.” We’ve made some decisions based on people with skills like Rasmus Hojlund.

“I see a striker who has already shown what he can do that we wanted to sign but couldn’t get.” After that, we went to Rasmus because he’s good.”

Ten Hag, who is in danger of losing his job because of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new rules on sports and hiring, made it clear that he is not comparing Hojlund to Kane, who has scored more goals than anyone else in England’s history, and that Hojlund needs time to grow.

But he warned that United’s return to the top will take longer than expected because the market hasn’t had much to offer in transfers over the last ten years, including during his own time in charge.

Ten Hag said, “Yes, and you know Harry Kane will get you 30 goals,” confirming that he was interested in signing Kane. Rasmus needs time, but I think he’ll get there. You can’t judge him the same way you judge Harry Kane. Each player is so different that I would never compare them.

“But Hojlund, I think we had the most potential as a striker last summer, and we’re very happy with him.” But he also needs time to get used to things, and we’re glad he scored goals to show what he can do.

“He had a great stretch where he scored a lot of goals after he showed it, but he had some physical problems before and after that, which is normal for a young player just starting out.” It does hurt the team’s performance, though, and you have to accept that.

“Now you go back to the fans and people who have an opinion. They don’t get it or don’t want to get it.” They only look at the score to rate Man United, but we need time.

“You have to accept the process is going slower and you can’t then expect to straight [away] compete for titles in the Champions League and Premier League.”