Harry Kane has spoken publicly for the first time since his reported desire to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
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Speaking to Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United legend Gary Neville in a recent interview, Kane revealed that he feels like he has reached a crossroads in his career.
After Spursโ final home game of the season, a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, Kane was visibly emotional as he applauded the Tottenham fans inside the stadium. Many believe it was his farewell to the club he has been out for his entire career.
The England captain, 27, also revealed that he is set to sit down with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to have a โgood honest conversationโ about his future.
This was Kaneโs response when asked if heโs reached a crossroads in his career.
Kane on his future
โFor sure, itโs a moment in my career where I have to kind of reflect and see where Iโm at and have a good, honest conversation with the chairman (Daniel Levy). Iโm sure that heโll want to set out the plan of where he sees it, but ultimately itโs going to be down to me and how I feel and whatโs going to be the best for me and my career at this moment in time.โ
Kane also said heโs missed playing in the Champions League this season:ย โI want to be playing in the biggest games. The biggest moments.โ
He added that heโs sure Levy has a plan but: โUltimately itโs going to be down to me and how I feel and whatโs going to be the best for me and my career at this moment in time.โ
Kane went on to admit that he wasnโt sure how the conversation with Levy will go when it comes down to it.
โIโm not sure how that conversation is going to go, to be honest,โ Kane smiled. โAs players you donโt know what the chairman is thinking. He might want to sell me! He might be thinking, โif I could get 100 million for you, why not?โ Iโm not going to be worth that after the next two or three years.
โI hope we have a good enough relationship. Iโve given the clubโฆ well, Iโve been there 16 years of my life. So, I hope that we can have a good honest conversation and see where we are at in that aspect.โ
Where could Harry Kane go? Man City the favorites?
Seeing Kane at any other Premier League club would be weird, but you have to say that Manchester City will be the frontrunners.
Given his allegiance to Tottenham, moving to Chelsea would surely be tough for Spurs, and Kane, to sanction.
Heading to Manchester City would make the most sense as Sergio Aguero is moving on this summer, Gabriel Jesus is yet to fully stand up as the heir apparent and Pep Guardiola has played most of this season without a recognized striker and City still dominated the Premier League.
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Imagine Kane linking up with Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden et al. for the next few years?
City would win everything. And Kane raved about KDB in his interview with Neville.
โWhen I watch De Bruyne play heโs a special, special player and some of the balls I see him put in for City are just a strikerโs dream if Iโm honest,โ Kane said. โHeโs an outstanding player with the ball, off the ball, pressing, but his delivery is as good as Iโve ever seen to be honest.โ
Manchester United would also be a good fit for him with their style of play, but you get the sense that City are the only club that Kane would leave Tottenham for. In his candid interview he also seemed to rule out a move abroad.
โOf course thereโs always the option of maybe moving abroad one day but I donโt think that really interests me in the near future,โ Kane said.
City are also perhaps the only club who can afford him, as Kane has three years left on his current contract and you have to think that Spurs will ask for well over $150 million for the heart and soul of their team.
Can you blame Kane?
No. You canโt. Heโs probably stayed two or three seasons longer than he should have out of loyalty, and even if he leaves this summer he will go down as a Spurs legend. Heโs scored 220 goals in 335 games for Spurs and has been the focal point of their team for the last seven seasons.
But now seems like the right time to depart.
He is very ambitious, wants to reach the levels of Messi and Ronaldo and he probably can get close if injuries are kind to him.
After reaching multiple cup finals with Tottenham and leading them to multiple top four finishes, two straight seasons out of the Champions League will not do for a player of Kaneโs caliber. Nor will not winning a major trophy.
He has outgrown Tottenham and Levyโs poor decisions in terms of managers and player recruitment has seen the progress made under Mauricio Pochettino vanish.
Kane is said to be disappointed that Spurs havenโt matched his own ambition.
He will have found it tough to make this decision, but his head has clearly overruled his heart.
To win trophies, fulfil his potential and take his game to the very top level, he needs to leave Tottenham. Deep down, Tottenhamโs fans always knew this day would come.
