Harry Kane’s Stellar Start at Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s forward Harry Kane has made a remarkable impact this season, netting 13 goals and contributing three assists over the course of just seven matches across all competitions. This impressive tally positions him well ahead of his pace during his previous two seasons in German football. Last season, he concluded with 26 goals and eight assists in 31 Bundesliga matches, while he scored 36 goals and assisted eight times in 32 league games during the 2023/24 season.
Astonishing Goal Records
Since his transfer to Bavaria, the England national team captain has amased an extraordinary 98 goals and provided 27 assists in 103 appearances. These statistics are exceptional, especially considering Kane’s age of 32, making his accomplishments even more notable.
Kane has long been recognized as an elite goalscorer, yet he often flies under the radar despite being the all-time top scorer for Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team. His remarkable feats seem to be downplayed, especially amid discussions suggesting that the Bundesliga may not be as competitive.
Prior to joining Bayern, Kane had already scored 213 goals in the Premier League, placing him just 47 goals away from breaking Alan Shearer’s all-time record of 260.
Potential Return to the Premier League?
With Kane’s contract at Bayern running until 2027, speculation about his return to the Premier League has emerged, particularly with multiple reports signaling Manchester United’s keen interest in acquiring him. Although there has been no official statement from either Kane or Bayern Munich, it appears that the club might prefer to negotiate a satisfactory fee next summer instead of risking a significant loss in January 2027 or allowing him to leave for free at the end of the 2026/27 season.
For years, Manchester United has been in search of a forward of Kane’s caliber, a player who can be consistently relied upon to score between 15 and 20 goals each season.
Challenges for United’s New Striker
Benjamin Sesko has recently transitioned to Manchester United from RB Leipzig, aiming to fulfill that crucial goal-scoring role. However, the 22-year-old is struggling, having played six games without scoring or assisting, particularly concerning given his reported transfer fee of £73.7 million.
The struggles of Sesko are reminiscent of Rasmus Hojlund’s difficulties during his debut season at the club, where he managed just 14 goals in 62 Premier League appearances over 95 games. In the past five years, Marcus Rashford is the only player who has reached a scoring peak with 30 goals in a single season.
Crosses: A Long-standing Issue for United
One significant problem for United over the years has been their inefficient crossing into the box. Since the 2014/15 season, at least 14 players have put in over 100 crosses each, with Bruno Fernandes delivering 675 but only finding his target on 111 occasions, while Paul Pogba managed a mere 30 successful crosses out of 177.
Strikingly, across the last decade, United players made a total of 7,802 crosses, of which 6,265 failed to find a target, including 1,073 that were blocked. Only 1,537 crosses from open play were successful, illustrating a considerable waste of opportunities.
Addressing the Core Issues
Although Kane may not be at his peak, his expertise in finding the goal remains unmatched. When playing alongside players who can create opportunities, such as Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, the chances of success increase dramatically.
Historically, a popular saying observed that if you “feed the goat,” Shaun Goater, he would score; Kane is a player who exemplifies that philosophy. If he were to choose Old Trafford as his next destination, United’s management and coaching staff would need to reassess their approach in tailoring a system around Kane’s exceptional goal-scoring ability. If they fail to adapt, even someone as proficient as Kane might struggle, much like Sesko and others have this season.
