Harry Kane & Erling Haaland could pick any club they want in summer transfer window – why on earth would it be Man Utd?

WHEN Manchester United were linked with a move for Harry Kane over the weekend, I had to check it wasn’t still April Fool’s Day.

When it was reported they held talks with Erling Haaland, I could only assume he was asking for directions to the Etihad.

EPA

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been linked with a summer switch to join Manchester United[/caption]

Getty

The Red Devils are said to be keen on Erling Haaland, though it is unlikely he will make the move to Old Trafford[/caption]

Kane and Haaland could have their pick of just about any club in the world this summer.

And that pick sure ain’t going to be United.

Apart from one obvious reason, why would any world-class player with serious ambitions sign for a club who have been treading water for years?

Since United last won the title in 2013, they have finished an average of 21.7 points behind the champions.

With eight games of this campaign left, they trail leaders Manchester City by 22 points.

So it’s not even as if this is a particularly bad season for United. It’s become the norm.

In the unlikely event of Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup, there’s a chance United won’t even qualify for the Uefa Conference League.

Not only are they a country mile behind City and Liverpool, they are also in danger of being left behind by the London quartet of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and even West Ham.

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The way things are going, they could be scrapping it out with newly-minted Newcastle for eighth place next season.

Because if you take away United’s glorious past, there’s not a lot to distinguish them from the Geordies trying to buy their way on to football’s top table.

If all United can now offer are ludicrous wages, it’s going to be a long time before they will be a serious force again.

We saw how much commitment a fat pay packet buys as Bruno Fernandes marked his new £240,000-a-week deal by jumping out of a tackle in a 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Paul Pogba, strolling to the end of his £290,000-a-week contract, has not ruled out extending his Old Trafford holiday.

And we still don’t know if Cristiano Ronaldo will stay for another year in return for a further £25million.

The fact Fernandes signed a new deal, without knowing who his manager will be next season, says it all.

It’s increasingly likely Erik ten Hag has been identified as the man to succeed where David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick all failed.

And if he can’t get a tune out of this bunch of serial underachievers, there may be no rescuing Manchester United by the time they get around to appointing their next manager.