Roy Keane warned Man Utd not to sign flop and suggested two world-class stars instead

Roy Keane demanded Manchester United sign two players in the summer of 2023 – but where are they now?

Keane made the comments at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, which saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City win their third Premier League title in a row on the way to a historic treble.

As for United, they enjoyed a respectable first season under Erik ten Hag’s leadership, finishing third in the league and runners-up in the FA Cup after losing to City in the final.

Ahead of the season, Antony and Lisandro Martínez arrived from Ten Hag’s former club Ajax, while Casemiro signed from Real Madrid.

Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen also signed for the Old Trafford club. Despite qualifying for the Champions League, United were heavily linked with then-Chelsea star Mason Mount, Spurs forward Harry Kane and West Ham central midfielder Declan Rice.

Offering his opinion on the three players when speaking to Sky Sports at the time, Keane said: “They have to get a world-class striker, but it’s going to be difficult because City are brilliant with a great, great manager.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about Mount.

“They’re going to be linked with lots of players, but the one that would excite you really is Kane.”

After fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards questioned Keane’s stance on Mount, Keane added: “He’s just gone off the boil a little bit. I know he can bounce back and he’s got qualities, and I was raving about him a few years ago.

“He’s just gone missing the last year or two, had one or two injuries, and the fact he can’t get in a bad Chelsea team.

“I wouldn’t be hanging my hat too much on him in terms of improving United and closing the gap; I think he’s a good player, but would he improve United? I’m not so sure.

“I think Rice would, he would be a decent signing, but in terms of the excitement and goalscoring, they’ve got to go for Kane, but can you see Spurs selling to United? Very, very difficult.”

Was Roy Keane right about Mason Mount?

Now, more than three years later, Keane’s comments have aged well, with Mount yet to sustain a solid run of form in a United shirt after his £55million move from Chelsea.

In 80 appearances, Mount has produced just eight goals and two assists, and he has yet to receive an England cap since joining the Old Trafford club.

Mount’s arrival has coincided with United finishing eighth in 2023/24, 15th in 2024/25 and third in 2025/26 – although he played just 23 league games last term.

Meanwhile, Rice and Kane’s careers have followed an almost constant upward trajectory since May 2023.

Rice lifted the Conference League with West Ham in 2022/23 before going on to sign for Arsenal in a £105million deal that summer.

The Englishman has since become a stalwart in Mikel Arteta’s side, helping them win the 2025/26 Premier League title and reach the Champions League final in the same campaign.

On the international stage, Rice has become one of the first names on England’s team sheet, playing a leading role as the side reached two Euros finals – in 2021 and 2024 - and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, before finishing third in the 2026 edition.

As with Rice, Kane’s decision to avoid signing for United has proven to be the correct one. He decided to up sticks and leave Spurs to sign for Bayern in 2023.

The England skipper failed to get his hands on silverware during his first season in Bavaria as Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga, despite Kane netting 36 goals in 32 games.

But since then, the 33-year-old has helped Bayern to back-to-back Bundesliga crowns and the 2025/26 DFB-Pokal.

From a personal point of view, Kane’s German adventure could hardly have played out better, with the Englishman pipping Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to the 2026 Ballon d’Or and effectively being crowned the best active footballer on the planet.

Rice has also picked up several individual honours, including Arsenal’s Men’s Player of the Season awards for 2024/25 and 2025/26, the club’s Goal of the Season award for 2024/25, the Football Supporters’ Association Men’s Player of the Year award in 2024 and the Premier League Player of the Year award at the 2024 London Football Awards.

The 27-year-old was also named in the Premier League Team of the Year for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, as well as the Champions League Team of the Season for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

So, it’s safe to say Keane was spot on back in 2023, with the pair now worth a combined £150million, according to Transfermarkt’s valuation.

Jamie Carragher dubs Declan Rice the Premier League’s best midfielder

Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (November 1), ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher dubbed Rice the Premier League’s best midfielder by a long way, with the Gunners star providing the pass to set up Kai Havertz’s strike.

"He's one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had," Carragher said.

"They've obviously had some great ones. He's right up there with the best of them. He's the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It's not even a debate."

Is Jamie Carragher right about Rice being the best midfielder in the Premier League?