Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has ‘guaranteed’ Harry Kane will leave Tottenham next summer if they fail to progress this season.
The Harry Kane saga dragged on throughout the summer transfer window, and eventually came to an end with the striker staying put. The long contract he signed at Tottenham in 2018 proved crucial as his club refused to budge under pressure from suitors Manchester City. Kane also maintains to have no regrets after the move failed.
Pep Guardiola had even gone public with his desire to recruit Kane as Man City were prepared to pay at least £127 million for the England captain. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to entertain any talks with the Premier League champions and kept hold of his prized asset at the cost of probably broken relations.
However, there is a feeling Manchester City might come back for Kane next summer. The striker will be a year older then, and Man City could have their sights on other, much younger alternatives, someone like Erling Haaland. Kane will also have played another year of his current contract and might convince Levy better then.
Kane had grown frustrated at Tottenham when he realised the team isn’t progressing, and his desire for trophies may never come to fruition in north London. Man City, in contrast, were just crowned Premier League and League Cup winners while also losing in the Champions League Final to Chelsea.
There are still speculations that Man City might come back with an offer next summer, and former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan’ guarantees’ Kane will leave Spurs during that period. Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan suggested the England man could go if Spurs failed to progress this season.
Whelan said, “He’ll have a season here with Tottenham. He won’t leave in January. He is leaving at the end of the season, I guarantee you, if Tottenham have not progressed to a level he feels he can win things with. That is what it’s all about for Harry Kane.
“For a player of his calibre, he’s had a taste of it in the Euros. If they don’t do something this season, this is going to raise its ugly head again in the summer. I have absolutely no doubt about it.”
Whelan’s reasoning is pretty clear, although there are other big questions are over what sort of fee Levy might demand from suitors, especially Guardiola’s side. The biggest question of all is whether Manchester City will still be interested in Kane, who will be close to being a 29-year-old striker next summer.
