What if: Harry Kane had stayed at Arsenal

#4 Louis van Gaal would see out his contract

Van Gaal had never pretended that he was in at Manchester United for the long haul

In May 2016, Manchester United announced that Louis van Gaal was to leave the club with immediate effect. By then, the news did not come across as a surprise. But it was painful to see such a glorious managerial career coming to an unceremonious end.

Van Gaal had never pretended that he was in at Manchester United for the long haul, but he had insisted on occasions that he would see out his 3-year contract.

Ed Woodward himself would have wanted things to be different but had his hand forced by Manchester United's failure to make the top four. A club like United has enormous pressure to be Champions League regulars; from the sponsors, the marketing partners and of course the fans.

In the absence of Harry Kane, however, Tottenham wouldn't be quite so formidable a prospect; and United could have taken their place in the top four. In that case, Van Gaal would have stayed for one more year to see out his contract – and the managerial giant could have had the sendoff he deserves for all his contributions to football.