Gareth Southgate has insisted it will not be a problem for England if Harry Kane moves to Bayern Munich.
Bayern are desperate to sign the Tottenham striker and are trying to lure the England captain away from the Premier League.
Kane, who turns 30 later this month, has just one year left on his £200,000-a-week contract and leaving Tottenham would be a huge upheaval just 12 months before next summer’s Euros.
But Southgate, who was a guest on the BBC ’s Test Match Special from the Ashes at Headingley, compared it to Jude Bellingham and insisted playing abroad did not hamper his progression with England.
When asked whether Kane moving abroad would be an issue, Southgate said: “I think with the players we’ve had abroad, we had Jude Bellingham in Dortmund, and we had a very good relationship with Borussia Dortmund when Jude was there for example.
“We’re such a small world now that we can fly and see them, we can go to the training grounds, we knows the coaches abroad, our medical teams connect.
“These are top clubs and it’s easy to have as good a connection with Real Madrid where Bellingham is now compared to one of our big clubs really.”
Southgate also talked about his passion for cricket, the similarities between the England cricket and football teams being able to cope with extra pressure and also his relief as a parent that neither of his children have followed his path into sport.
He even joked that his son - who prefers cricket to football - should keep his secret identity when playing otherwise he could be hit with a bouncer!
TMS presenter Jonathan Agnew also asked whether Southgate had been to see the stage show 'Dear England' which is about how the national team’s success has changed the mood of the nation.
Southgate laughed: “I’ve not been, I would find it very difficult to go and watch myself on stage.”
Meanwhile, former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet believes Kane will stay at Spurs next season despite Bayern Munich’s interest.
Poyet , in an interview with 888sport, added: “Based on previous experience, I would say Harry Kane will still be at Tottenham next season. Two years ago I thought he was going to Manchester City. I was not even 99% sure, I was 100% sure, and then he stayed.
“If I was Harry Kane I would stay in the Premier League rather than going to Bayern Munich. It will be a massive decision for Tottenham, for Harry, and for everyone involved, and of course, as the coach, Ange Postecoglou would like him to stay.
“There have been so many rumours and so many things happening over the past two or three years so I can’t say for sure what is going to happen. I think the only person who really knows is Harry Kane.”
