The dilemma facing Harry Kane this summer might ultimately be out of his hands.
But if there is a choice to be made between trophies and records, then it will define Kane’s legacy and career ambition. Kane, who turns 30 next month, is already Tottenham’s record goalscorer, he wants to become the Premier League’s all-time top scorer and his status as a Spurs legend is already assured.
But Kane must now decide whether he wants to move out of his comfort zone, move abroad and push himself to win the trophies which, so far, are missing from his CV. Bayern Munich are making a determined effort to sign Kane this summer as boss Thomas Tuchel sees the England captain as the ideal striker to spearhead his ambitions to make the German giants a European force again.
A big-money move to the Bundesliga is different to the lure of Real Madrid but it would come with a virtual guarantee of trophies and silverware. Bayern’s initial interest and attempts to lure Kane to Germany have been met with a very firm “he’s not for sale” message from Tottenham.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already made it very clear he will not sell to a Premier League rival in Manchester United and Spurs have doubled down by saying any bid from Bayern will be rejected. In transfer terms, that is rarely the end of the matter as Bayern - whose initial valuation was around £65m mark - are set to come back with an offer of £80m.
That will surely test Tottenham’s resolve on a player who has one year left on his contract, has shown no burning desire to sign a new deal and could walk away for free next summer. But one thing which would really swing the argument would be for Kane to push for the move and to make it clear he wants to leave, he will not sign a new deal and he wants a new challenge.
The question now is whether Kane is prepared to do that. Manchester City tried to sign him two years ago, Kane wanted out but Levy refused to budge. But Kane had three years on his contract. It is a different scenario now and will most likely come down to just how much Kane wants it.
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And it will also be about whether Kane just wants records - which can one day be broken - or trophies which can never be taken away. Kane has scored 213 Premier League goals - 47 shy of Alan Shearer’s record - and is revered by Spurs fans as an all time great. But Tottenham have not won a trophy since 2008 and despite Kane’s prolific record, he has never lifted a piece of silverware.
Tottenham have brought in Ange Postecoglou as their new manager and, after his success at Celtic, are banking on him delivering the football and results to somehow convince Kane to stay beyond his current deal. It is one hell of a gamble. Tottenham know selling Kane would be the equivalent of raising the white flag. That is why Real Madrid’s interest got rebuffed and the Spanish giants moved on. The same for Manchester United.
The other point is that Kane is regarded by many as a “home bird” whose family means everything to him. Has there been a sudden change in him that makes him willing to try a new challenge overseas? Shearer has suggested that if he were Kane then he’d push himself to win something. Ex-Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has said the opposite and claimed there is no way Kane will leave this summer even if Tottenham were willing to sell. Which, he says, they’re not. And he knows Levy.
Now comes the dilemma for Kane. And we also probably underestimate just how appealing being a free agent is to a player both in financial terms and having the pick of your clubs. If Kane waits another year then he can see how Tottenham pans out. He will also have the whole of Europe knocking at his door even though he will be 31 at the start of the 2024/25 season.
It probably means that it will take a huge offer from Bayern to make Levy change his mind. And one hell of a push from Kane to make it happen. And doubts remain over whether one of those things will happen, let alone both.
