Jermaine Jenas says that Harry Kane has "caused his own problem" amid his ongoing transfer saga by coming so close to Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League goalscoring record.
Tottenham striker Kane needs to net 47 more strikes to equal Newcastle and Blackburn legend Shearer's tally of 260. But the England captain, 29, hopes to leave Spurs this summer and finally join a club where he can challenge for major honours - unlike at Spurs.
Unfortunately for Kane, though, it appears that he'll have to move abroad to do so, as his prospects in the Premier League are bleak. Manchester United were his only credible escape route heading in the summer transfer window, but the Red Devils have already pulled out of a move after being told to cough up £100million by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
Meanwhile, German giants Bayern Munich have shown their intent to sign him after having a £60m bid rejected, while Real Madrid are also in need of a new No.9. That's all prompted Jenas to admit that Kane stands in a difficult position as the new season nears.
"If I was Harry Kane, I would go to Real Madrid," the ex-Spurs midfielder, when speaking on Tea with Timbsy, declared. "But Harry has got himself into a situation where he's almost caused himself his own problem, because of how important it is to him to be the Premier League's top goal scorer.
"He's come so far and he's only about 50 odd goals away. If he moves and stays in the Prem, he can't go to Arsenal, Chelsea would bite their hand off but Daniel Levy's never gonna deal with Chelsea again after the whole [Eden] Hazard and Willian situation which is why you don't see that transaction happen anymore. Liverpool have got [Darwin] Nunez and City have got [Erling] Haaland.
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"So Man United is his only option. Are Man United gonna win the league next year? No. So what are you going there for? Money? Spurs will give him whatever he wants. He's on a fortune already. If he turns around and says I want £350-400,000 a week, I don't see a place where that doesn't happen. The only thing, how you're thinking in terms of value, that's how Daniel Levy is thinking."
When speaking exclusively to Mirror Football on behalf of Soccer Aid earlier this year, Jenas backed Kane to quit Tottenham, claiming that the Spurs talisman "deserves better". "There's no doubt about that," he insisted.
"If I'm Harry Kane I'd be looking at that thinking, 'Look, enough's enough now, I've given everything to this club and they don't wanna give me anything back, they're not putting anything in place that is even close to building anything like a championship-winning team or a team that wants to win things, why should I sacrifice this part of my career?' I'd be looking to potentially move on.
"There's not one Tottenham fan who would blame Harry. He missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime [when Manchester City tried to sign him in 2021] for whatever reason, and if something else rears it's head this summer and he decides to leave, then that'll be the club's the fault because they haven't been able to provide him with what he deserves."
