Man Utd’s £80m Bayern bid & 213-goal hitman pursuit both end in transfer snubs

As Manchester United continue pursuing new signings in the summer transfer window, their fans will be hoping for success in the market, having failed to land a host of big-name targets in past years

While Matheus Cunha has already walked through Manchester United's doors, Bryan Mbeumo could soon follow – and supporters will be hoping to avoid a repeat of past failings in the transfer market.

The Red Devils signed Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5million at the start of June and are trying to wrap up a move for Mbeumo, despite recent interest from Tottenham Hotspur – now managed by his former boss Thomas Frank. Ruben Amorim is desperate for new recruits, after losing the Europa League final and finishing 15th in the Premier League.

United are always busy in the transfer window, but their success record in recent years has not been strong.

The likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Antony have each arrived for huge money, but have failed to hit the heights they did at their previous clubs. While many United fans will pick holes in various deals that have been made, they will be equally disappointed with the targets who have got away.

Mirror Football takes you through some of those United have allowed to slip through their fingers over the last few years.

Harry Kane

In his final season at Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane overtook Jimmy Greaves to become Spurs' record goalscorer, before stating Alan Shearer's Premier League record was next in his sights. With Manchester City signing Erling Haaland, Liverpool buying Cody Gakpo at the time and Spurs generally being reluctant to sell star players to Chelsea and Arsenal, United looked to have a clear route to Kane.

However, Benni McCarthy, who was part of Erik ten Hag's backroom team at Old Trafford at the time, revealed the club were put off by his nine-figure transfer fee.

Speaking at Ladbrokes' launch of the Gaffer of all Accas, McCarthy said: "Harry Kane was Erik's No.1 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're going to want to spend that kind of money – £100million-plus – then you want the complete package. And Harry Kane, for me, was the complete package.

"But unfortunately, the club didn't see it that way. They looked at it as Rasmus Hojlund in the long run would be a more prized asset than investing in both Rasmus and Harry Kane. So we stopped pursuing Kane and we ended up getting just Rasmus."

Kane left for Bayern Munich that summer, having scored 213 Premier League goals – just 47 short of Shearer's record of 260.

Thomas Muller

In 2015, Muller was heavily linked with a move to United, who were managed by Louis van Gaal. The Dutchman was one of Muller's first managers at Bayern Munich and a reunion was potentially on the cards.

However, the German international was one of Bayern's most important players. Even a world record equalling £80m bid from United did not budge the Bundesliga heavyweight's resolve.

Looking back on the rumours, Muller has previously said: "Things were serious when Van Gaal came in [for me] in 2015, for all sides involved. I could imagine going to United then.

"But the club said, 'We want you to stay.’ I wasn’t out of contract, that’s why it was pretty clear-cut in the end.”

Declan Rice

Very briefly, Declan Rice was the most expensive transfer in Premier League history when he decided to join Arsenal in 2023. Before he moved to the Emirates Stadium, United were constantly linked with him.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previously revealed that he and other officials at the Red Devils discussed a move for the ex-West Ham United captain.

The Norwegian previously told The Stick to Football podcast: "We discussed him a few times and I think we would have done well with him in midfield.

"I think he improved a lot on his playmaking as well. Obviously he would have cost some money, but we could have and should have gone for him.”

Erling Haaland

United had inside-knowledge of Erling Haaland when the forward was still a little known teenager in Norway. That came courtesy of Solskjaer, who was managing Molde when Haaland was a barely known young prodigy.

Before he even returned to Old Trafford, Solskjaer told his former side to snap him up as soon as possible. The ex-United boss said: "I had him in Molde, for two seasons more or less. The summer before I got here [in Manchester], I rang the club and said, 'You’ve got to sign this boy. He’ll be absolutely top class.'

"That was June, July 2018, and they said, 'No.' Then I became caretaker manager and Molde had sold Haaland to RB Salzburg. I told the club, 'Buy him straightaway, before he plays,' because he didn't play for them for three or four months. 'Just sign him now because he's got a release clause.'

"We knew that then, and no-one else would’ve paid that money – €20m (£17.2m) it would’ve been a bargain. It was the club’s decision to not go for him then. We never made bids or went in for him, until after they realised, when he started scoring for Salzburg. By then Dortmund were there, Juventus were there, everyone was there.”

Toni Kroos

After a disappointing first transfer window as United manager, David Moyes started looking towards the future, where he envisioned a starting eleven with Toni Kroos in the midfield. Moyes missed out on many top targets in his first summer, including the likes of Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas and Arturo Vidal, and had to settle with just Marouane Fellaini arriving at Old Trafford.

In 2014, Moyes started a charm offensive with Kroos, that worked, as they agreed a verbal agreement for him to join. Kroos said: "I knew that Manchester United wanted me and Moyes underlined that absolutely. It was a really nice afternoon with very nice people. We talked a lot about United’s footballing plan which convinced me. In the end, we agreed verbally. So it was close, I almost went to United."

Unfortunately for Moyes, he would go on to be sacked before the end of his first campaign. His successor, Van Gaal, opted against signing Kroos and instead bought Ander Herrera to strengthen their midfield.