Harry Kane drops big hint over Tottenham future as Man Utd transfer target eyes chance to finally end trophy drought
HARRY was a problem for the Palace yet again on Saturday.
But after the Premier League’s now second-highest scorer netted his 11th goal against the Eagles to win this tight game, he spoke like a man not looking to cause his own club a headache by pushing for a summer move.
Instead Kane was more concerned by the importance of Tottenham ensuring they qualify for Europe — whatever the competition — this season to boost their trophy prospects.
And he even talked of the possibility of sitting down with Daniel Levy before the campaign is out over the chairman’s plans for a permanent successor to former boss Antonio Conte.
Cynics will argue what else would you expect of England’s greatest goal-getter, a model pro who holds all the power, with 13 months to go on his contract and Manchester United circling.
That may be the case but the feeling from within Spurs is that a summer sale is unlikely, with a free transfer a year later more palatable.
We will see how the close-season pans out — and if Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils, or any other super club, really do test Levy’s famous resolve.
Yet Kane’s focus is clearly unaffected by talk of any potential move, unlike the season before last where he netted just once in the first half of the campaign after seeing a dream switch to Manchester City fall flat.
He was the difference here in what was an even contest, showing all his skills as the perfect hybrid of No 9 and No 10 by creating and scoring the winner in first-half stoppage time.
Kane found the excellent Pedro Porro out wide with a clever pass before racing to the far post to nod the Portuguese’s pinpoint cross into the Eagles’ net.
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The goal was his 26th in the Prem this season and his 209th overall, moving him past Wayne Rooney into second on the all-time lists.
It also saw him break Duncan Ferguson’s 25-year record of most headed goals in a Premier League season, setting the new bar at ten.
And it kept Spurs in the hunt for Europe, even if the Europa Conference League may be the best they can hope for if Brighton capitalise on their three games in hand.
Kane, who turns 30 in July, said: “If we can come away from this season with European football, that’s a small prize at the end of a tough season.
“We’ll be fighting for that and fighting in the three games left to try to pick up three wins.”
Some Spurs fans would prefer not to finish in Europe at all, seeing the third-tier competition of the Conference League as a bit of a booby prize.
Yet Kane, who has famously never won a trophy, retorted: “You can’t disrespect any competition that you play in.
“It’s one of those, if you end up in the Conference League and win it, it’s worth it. If you don’t, then people probably look at it as an inconvenience. But when you’ve been at a club where we haven’t won a trophy for 15 years, if we do end up in it, it could be an opportunity to try and put that to bed.”
Spurs had shipped a whopping 12 goals in their last three games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool but picked up a first clean sheet since February 26 here.
That was in large part due to the solid tactics of interim boss Ryan Mason, who reverted to a 4-4-2 out of possession and the familiar 3-4-3 with the ball.
Kane talked ahead of last week’s 4-3 thrilling defeat to Liverpool how he felt the club had lost some of its values.
When asked if he backed Mason for the job full-time, he pointed to how he felt the caretaker boss was bringing some of those values back.
Kane said: “We’re all behind him. We know the club is in a situation where I spoke about getting some of the values back. I feel like Ryan brings all those attributes.
“He’s been here through the academy, he knows what it’s like as a fan, he knows what it’s like to play here.”
The likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and Feyenoord chief Arne Slot are all under consideration to replace Conte, who exited in March.
Asked if he has been enthused by what he has read about the manager search, Kane replied: “That’s down to the club. If I end up speaking with the chairman towards the end of the season, then I’m sure he’ll fill me in on what he’s thinking.”