Joining Manchester United in their pomp is easy. Joining Manchester United in their current state, fresh from the worst Premier League campaign ever at Old Trafford, requires a bit of madness.
It’s crazy to believe you could be the man who can lead the Red Devils out of their current decline, with former Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo – signed in a £71million deal over the summer – already looking set to do just that.
There may not have been the glamor attached to the deal that there was when names like Angel Di Maria or Radamel Falcao first emerged in Manchester, but perhaps that’s because the landmark move actually made sense, with Ruben Amorim and co shelling out for a properly proven Premier League figure.
After scoring 20 times in the top flight last time out under Thomas Frank, there was a feeling the Cameroonian was destined for the Champions League, with his former boss intending to take him to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 26-year-old, to his credit, has made it clear he only wants United, patiently waiting for lengthy negotiations to finally seal the desired move. Since then, six goals in his first 12 games for the club have followed.
Mbeumo is now the go-to guy for additional reinforcements to try to bring in, with recent reports indicating that additional attacking signings could potentially be in the pipeline.
The search for a Man Utd striker
Although the extent of his injury is not yet known, the potential absence of Benjamin Sesko has highlighted the lack of real alternatives to the Slovenian, with Joshua Zirkzee the only other senior striker in Amorim’s ranks.
Sesko, signed for £74 million from RB Leipzig, has made a promising, if unspectacular, debut in English football with just two goals scored in the league and cup, with questions raised over whether a more experienced marksman is still needed.
According to reports in Spain, this fact could well lead to United renewing their interest in a certain Harry Kane in 2026, with the England skipper seen as a “proven solution” to their long-standing centre-forward problems.
According to the report, Barcelona and Chelsea are also paying close attention to the 32-year-old’s situation at Bayern Munich, with his existing contract in Bavaria set to expire in 2027.
Kane, the report suggests, is keen to stay at the Allianz Arena, although the presence of a €65m (£57m) release clause in his current deal is sure to spark renewed interest heading into the new year.
Whether in January or next summer, Kane – who was Erik ten Hag’s main target in 2023 – would remain a significant coup if INEOS managed to pull it off.
Why Man Utd could land an even better signing than Mbeumo
2023 remains a frustrating window as far as United are concerned, with Ten Hag’s apparent interest in Kane and Declan Rice ultimately counting for little, as Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana all arrived instead.
Hojlund, as those at Old Trafford know, has since proven to be a mixed bag, having scored just 26 goals in 95 games in all competitions, along with a further four goals on loan at Napoli this season.
Since leaving Spurs for Bayern two years ago, Kane has racked up a ridiculous total of 108 goals in just 113 games for the Bundesliga giants, becoming the fastest player this century to reach the triple for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Mbeumo may have stolen the show with a standout 2024/25 campaign for the Bees, but if you’re looking for true Premier League proven quality, then Kane is the man. With 213 goals in England’s top flight, he is third on the all-time list.
Widely regarded as the best striker in the world, Kane has scored at least 17 league goals every season from 2014/15 to 2024/25. As for the new campaign, he already has 13 out of ten in the German top division. Mbeumo, on the other hand, has five out of 11.
|
Kane – League record (since 14/15) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals |
|
2024/25 |
31 |
26 |
|
2023/24 |
32 |
36 |
|
2022/23 |
38 |
30 |
|
2021/22 |
37 |
17 |
|
2020/21 |
35 |
23 |
|
2019/20 |
29 |
18 |
|
2018/19 |
28 |
17 |
|
2017/18 |
37 |
30 |
|
2016/17 |
30 |
29 |
|
2015/16 |
38 |
25 |
|
2014/15 |
34 |
21 |
|
via Transfermarkt |
||
Not your typical superstar, the former Spurs talisman is simply efficient in the extreme, with few players in the modern era having possessed such a ruthless and clinical streak in front of goal.
The beauty of Kane too, though, is that he’s not just an average poacher in the penalty box. So many strings to his extraordinary bow.
Even deployed in an almost central midfield role under Vincent Kompany this season, notably in the win over Borussia Dortmund, England’s top scorer has a knack for being able to throw passes at will, having become an overall playing number nine.
Such traits even led Tottenham great David Ginola to compare him to a legendary figure from the past in 2022: “He’s like the new Diego Maradona now. Long passes, short passes, he’s got it all.”
At 32, while he may be entering that ‘last dance’ territory, Amorim and United should certainly not overlook the opportunity to bring Kane back to England. After all, there’s Alan Shearer’s record to chase.
