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Harry Redknapp: Harry Kane would have turned Man Utd into title winners – I cannot believe they didn’t go in for him

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I’M still in complete shock about Harry Kane.

First of all, because I was so bullish that there was no way he would go to Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham for £104m on Saturday
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Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham for £104m on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
Harry Redknapp is stunned Man Utd didn't go in for Kane
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Harry Redknapp is stunned Man Utd didn't go in for KaneCredit: Getty

But also because I cannot believe that someone in the Premier League, especially Manchester United, didn’t go for him.

If Man United have got ambitions of winning the Premier League, he’s the one who could have made the difference for them.

United have spent £60-70million on a young centre-forward, Rasmus Hojlund, and they don’t even expect him to be in the team for a while.

At that price you’d expect him to come in and set the world alight!

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Then Liverpool and Chelsea are ready to pay £100m for Moises Caicedo, a defensive midfield player who doesn’t make or score goals, someone who breaks the play up, makes tackles and gets around the pitch.

Players like that, who do a dog’s job in midfield and let people around them play, used to be two a penny. Now they’re £100m.

For that money you want someone who can create and do something special. Someone like Harry Kane.

I really think he could have tipped the balance for United.

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Maybe Daniel Levy just wouldn’t sell to another English team — that’s the only explanation that makes sense to me.

From a Tottenham point of view, it’s really tough.

I was at a golf day as it was unfolding and there were a lot of Spurs fans there. They are gutted.

“They were hoping they would get at least another year out of Harry and dreaming that he might then decide to stay for the rest of his career.

But Daniel clearly thought the best thing for the club was getting £100m for a player who could leave for nothing next year.

Harry is irreplaceable — but somehow Spurs have to replace what he brought to the team.

They must recruit better than they have recently — and better than they did after selling Gareth Bale.

If Man United have got ambitions of winning the Premier League, Kane's the one who could have made the difference for them.

Harry Redknapp

Of all the players they bought with the Bale money, only Christian Eriksen was a real success.

In the last few years, they’ve bought bit-part players who haven’t stamped their mark on the team. They have to shop in a better market.

It’s tough for Ange Postecoglou. But he said that he always knew Harry leaving was a possibility, so you would hope the club at least have a shortlist of strikers.

The trouble is, where do you find them?

By going to Bayern, Harry is clearly putting team success over individual awards, like breaking the Premier League goalscoring record.

Alan Shearer will be well pleased, anyway.

Bayern are getting the perfect professional.

When I was at Spurs, I’d be lying if I said we thought Harry would become what he is.

We reckoned he could be a player but not the England captain, a superstar and the best centre-forward in the country, maybe the world.

United have spent £60-70million on a young centre-forward, Rasmus Hojlund, and they don’t even expect him to be in the team for a while. At that price you’d expect him to come in and set the world alight!

Harry Redknapp

I remember him playing in a behind-closed-doors reserve game against Birmingham.

Arsenal were looking to buy Scott Dann from Birmingham and came over for a final watch.

I think Harry scored four goals and destroyed Dann — who didn’t end up signing for Arsenal.

Afterwards, Frank Lampard senior went up to Harry and told him he liked him as a player but maybe he should work on his pace.

Frank advised Harry to get some running spikes and do some sprinting, saying it would give him an extra yard.

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The next time I saw Harry he had some spikes.

That dedication, that desire to improve, that love of the game are what have made him into a £100m player.

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