Manchester United were heavily tipped to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur before he completed his transfer to Bayern Munich.
The much-touted transfer to Old Trafford never happened due to a combination of factors.
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy did not hold a great relationship with the Man United hierarchy.
John Murtough, then football director, was not willing to get drawn into protracted negotiations with Levy and instead opted to splash heavily on Rasmus Hojlund.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast, former Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen said Kane would have been a game-changing signing for the Red Devils.
He said: “I mean, Harry Kane should have…Should have a year ago, a couple of years ago. That should have happened, I think. They could have got him, I think.”
Rio Ferdinand agreed with Owen: “That’s the biggest mistake I think they’ve made in the last 10 years. Yeah, well, I think if they go and pay the number that Spurs want, they would have got him.”
Man United should have gone all out for Harry Kane
The stars were finally aligned in the summer of 2023 for the Red Devils to get their talisman.
Kane was about to enter the final year of his contract with Spurs, and they preferred to sell him then rather than see him leave on a free after 12 months.
Due to the belief that Levy would not allow Kane to join a domestic rival, and with the cost of the transfer and wages deemed too high for a 30-year-old, United ended their pursuit before taking any formal steps.
No real talks took place between people at United and Tottenham and the striker ultimately sealed a move to the German giants.
The England international won his first major team trophy last season by securing the Bundesliga title.
He will be aiming to do one better and help his side challenge for the coveted UEFA Champions League this campaign.
On the other hand, United suffered one of their worst-ever seasons and will be without European football for only the second time in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The Red Devils should have tested the waters by floating an offer for Kane.
They have made several poor decisions over the last decade but missing out on Kane when he was available was absolutely criminal.