Another year, another season without a trophy for Harry Kane.
Well, that's of course if Tottenham don't mount the single greatest late Premier League title charge ever, as Antonio Conte 's men are out of all cup competitions following Wednesday's dismal goalless draw at home to AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16. A night for heroes turned into a night for woes after a toothless Spurs failed to overturn their 1-0 first-leg defeat.
For talisman Kane, the early European exit felt like a "dagger through the heart" just a week after being eliminated from the FA Cup by second-tier Sheffield United. "Where we're at as a club, we should be winning trophies," the England captain fumed following the limp loss against Milan.
Having entered the final 18 months of his lucrative contract and with no new deal in sight ahead of his June 2024 expiry date, Kane has been urged to leave his beloved Spurs in the summer transfer window and find a new club who can bring him the kind of success that he's long been dreaming of for his entire trophy-less career.
With that in mind, here are five potential destinations.
Manchester United
Starting with the obvious choice, Manchester United would seem like the ideal option for Harry Kane in a move not dissimilar from the one which Robin van Persie made, also aged 29, from Arsenal in 2012. Manchester City or Liverpool don't need a new striker, while a shock move to a North London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal is firmly off the table.
Sunday's 7-0 defeat aside, Erik ten Hag is building something promising at Old Trafford and recently ended the club's six-year trophy drought. Tipped for more before the end of this season, seeing the Red Devils lift silverware must be enticing for Kane - and they'd be happy to welcome him, especially after a takeover.
According to The Sun, United's representatives have contacted the 29-year-old's entourage and are confident over a swoop. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is known to drive hard bargain, but should Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions League, they could lower their asking price to £100million.
Another plus-point of a move to Old Trafford would be how it'd give Kane the opportunity to break the Premier League's all-time goalscoring record, with plenty of team-mates able to supply him with the goods. This one has the makings of a deal.
Bayern Munich
Secondary to the Red Devils in the running are Bayern Munich, who Mirror Football understands have discussed the idea of signing Kane, just like United. After letting master marksman Robert Lewandowski leave to join Barcelona last summer, the German giants are in need of a new striker.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is doing an admirable job filling in and Sadio Mane can also lead the line, but an out-and-out No.9 is what Bayern are used to. Multiple key figures at the Allianz Arena, such as manager Julian Nagelsmann and CEO Oliver Kahn, have talked up Kane's qualities in public, but sporting director Hasim Salihamidzic played down suggests over a move last September.
"I don't think Oliver Kahn is forcing a move for Kane," Salihamidzic stated, defending Bayern's decision not immediately replace Lewandowski. "You can all go down a gear. There's nothing to it."
Real Madrid
Another European giant looking to cast a long-term striker role are Real Madrid, where trophies are bread and butter. With Karim Benzema turning 36 next season, it's fair to say that the formidable Frenchman can't keep leading the line at the Santiago Bernabeu for much longer, so Los Blancos need to find a successor.
Would Kane, who'll turn 30 in the summer, be worth shelling out for, though? That's the conundrum which the reigning European champions face, as despite England's soon-to-be all-time record goalscorer having six years on Benzema, his persistent injury troubles are big red flag.
Have your say! Should Harry Kane finally leave Tottenham? Let us know your stance in the comments section.
Newcastle
A club hoping to reach European giant status is Newcastle. With all the money required to make the leap, the Magpies now need the talent.
Eddie Howe has impressed running the show at St James' Park but it's become clear in 2023 that to achieve a top-four finish, they need goals. Scoring just three in the Premier League since the turn of the year, Callum Wilson - who's two years older than Kane - isn't cutting it and Swedish starlet Alexander Isak is having some teething problems.
A team who many are betting to surpass Tottenham in the near future, maybe even this season in the Premier League standings, Newcastle can offer Kane both the ambition and resources to enjoy a glorious end to his career. Perhaps not the prestigious move, the image of him breaking Alan Shearer's Premier League record - which he currently trails by 60 goals, would be quite something.
Chelsea
What Todd Boehly wants, he seems to get. The Chelsea chief has already spent close to £600million on singings since taking over as co-owner in May last year and isn't afraid to get stuck into negotiations.
Swiping Enzo Fernandez from Benfica and beating Arsenal to Mykhaylo Mudryk are just two examples of Boehly's capacity to bring a wrecking ball into transfer talks, and that's exactly what he could do with Tottenham. Likely to be able to meet whatever asking price Levy slaps on Kane, the issue would be prising him away to a London rival.
The Spurs hero would no-doubt tarnish his legacy, but might it be worth doing so for a long-awaited taste of success? We'll see if Boehly is bold enough to launch a pursuit.
