After links to Bayern Munich, Harry Kane returns to work at Tottenham this week for preseason training.
The uncertainty around the England captain’s future at Spurs, however, is not going away.
New Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou held his first news conference on Monday since joining from Celtic and was immediately asked about Kane, who enters the final year of his contract at the London club.
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Englands Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Ukraine and England at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Saturday, July 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Ettore Ferrari, Pool)
“I haven’t had any assurances (about his future) and I wouldn’t expect any assurances,” the Australian manager said. “He’s one of the premier strikers in the world and I want him involved.”
Postecoglou, known for being a blunt speaker, plans to hold a meeting with Kane this week.
“My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful and I’ve got no doubts that’s what he wants as well,” Postecoglou said. “What I want is to introduce myself to Harry and give him my vision of the football club and get a sense from him on what he thinks the club needs to do to be successful, and walk out on that training pitch and try to make it happen.”
Tottenham wants to tie the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer to a new long-term contract.
Bayern, however, may test that resolve, having reportedly made two bids, with the latest one valued at 68.5 million pounds ($88 million).
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Englands Harry Kane celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between England and Senegal, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The question is whether that will tempt others to the table.
Manchester United has long been linked with Kane, and wants to sign a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo this offseason.
Real Madrid needs to replace the departed Karim Benzema and has also been mentioned in connection with Kane.
Then there is Paris Saint-Germain, which is intent on selling Kylian Mbappe unless its World Cup-winning forward signs a new contract.
That means four of European soccer’s biggest clubs are potentially in the market for a top-class center forward this summer.
It has been claimed that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s preference would be to sell abroad if he was to sell at all. The theory goes he would even be prepared to accept a smaller transfer fee, rather than see a club great playing for another English team.
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Englands Harry Kane, left, vies for the ball with Tyler Adams of the United States during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
That would take United out of the running. And while manager Erik ten Hag is an admirer of England’s all-time leading scorer, there is a growing expectation that he will look elsewhere.
Madrid is likely to be leading the chase for Mbappe, having tried to sign him in 2021. But the France international has said he plans to see out the final year of his contract. PSG’s transfer strategy is heavily dependent on Mbappe’s movement or non-movement.
Bayern has acted quickest but, even in the final year of Kane’s contract, a bid of $88 million looks low. Levy has gained a fierce reputation for his negotiating skills and managed to keep Kane away from the clutches of Manchester City two years ago.
Tottenham’s bargaining position is weaker now as it risks losing one of the finest strikers in history for nothing.
In a year, Kane will likely be able to take his pick of any of Europe’s leading clubs. If he stays in England he would have the chance to fulfil his ambition of surpassing Alan Shearer’s all-time record of 260 Premier League goals.
While Levy might not want to be the man who sold Kane, the prospect of losing him for nothing would surely be worse.
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Tottenhams Harry Kane walks off the pitch at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
That is why interest from Bayern may be more tempting than Tottenham is ready to admit — especially if it draws out other bidders and ultimately drives up his price.
In an ideal world for Levy and Tottenham fans, the meeting with Postecoglou this week will convince Kane he can achieve his ambitions of winning silverware right where he is. That despite the London club having had five managers in the last four years and failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, success is within reach.
“I am the kind of guy who loves a challenge. I love a build, I love a rebuild. That is where I feel I am at my best,” Postecoglou said. “Now my goal is to try and make some special moments here and create something special for this great football club as well.”
