Man United are believed to harbour regrets over not pursuing Moise Kean during the summer transfer window, with the Italian striker’s value already on the rise following his decision to stay at Fiorentina.
Man United had initially lined up moves for Liam Delap and Matheus Cunha, with release clauses worth a combined £92.5 million. However, Delap chose Chelsea for £30 million while Cunha joined Wolves, leaving Erik ten Hag’s side scrambling for a centre-forward.
The Red Devils eventually broke the bank for Benjamin Šeško, spending more than double what they would have paid for Delap. Prior to that, the club also sounded out Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyökeres, but Arsenal won the race for the Swedish striker with a £64 million deal.
Missed chance on Kean
According to Italian outlet Tutto Juve, Man United seriously considered Kean as an option and may now regret not activating his release clause. The former Everton forward was available for £45 million during the first two weeks of July — a figure that looks like a bargain compared to his current valuation.
The CIES Football Observatory now estimates Kean’s transfer value between £57m–67m, putting him in the same bracket as Rasmus Højlund. Fiorentina not only retained him but also tied him down to a new long-term deal.
Fiorentina secure their man
At the club’s pre-season presentation, Kean spoke of his commitment to Fiorentina.
“I am highly motivated to keep going here,” he told reporters. “Fiorentina gave me so much and always helped me out, now it is good for me to return for this new season with new motivation and ready to give my best for Fiorentina.”
Kean has since signed a four-year extension that runs until June 2029. According to Sky Sport, the contract also includes a revised release clause of £53 million — an increase on the £45 million that United could have triggered earlier this summer.
With Kean’s stock continuing to rise, United’s decision to pass up the chance now looks costly, particularly given their ongoing search for reliable firepower in attack.
