‘I certainly wouldn’t’: Why Bayern Munich’s public Harry Kane pursuit irks Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou remains upbeat about retaining star striker Harry Kane, but it is clear he and Tottenham want the issue resolved urgently. TOM ALLNUTT unpacks where the saga is at.

How long will Harry Kane remain under Ange Postecoglou‘s watch at Tottenham? Picture: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou has criticised Bayern Munich’s public pursuit of Harry Kane after the Tottenham Hotspur striker scored four goals in a 5-1 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk.

In what may be a final sighting of him in a Spurs shirt, Kane delivered a timely reminder of what they will be losing if they decide to sell him this summer. The fans certainly showed what they thought with renditions of “He’s one of our own” and “We want you to stay”.

After full-time, Kane walked around the Tottenham Stadium pitch on his own, applauding the fans in every stand. The less optimistic among them will believe it looked like a farewell.

Players and staff at Spurs are increasingly eager for the issue to be resolved, not least Postecoglou, the head coach, who was asked how he felt about various Bayern directors speaking so publicly about Kane in recent weeks.

“I think what is factual right now is that he is a contracted player of our football club,” Postecoglou said. “I certainly wouldn’t talk about contracted players at other football clubs, but I’m not at Bayern, mate, so they can go the way they want.”

"I'm in open dialogue with Harry and the club..."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on the future of Harry Kane ⚪⤵️pic.twitter.com/ZqReys36Lh

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 6, 2023

Bayern made a third bid, worth 100 million euros, last week, but are yet to receive a concrete response, despite setting Tottenham a deadline of midnight on Friday for an answer.

“From my perspective, I don’t know what deadlines means,” Postecoglou said. “We know there’s one deadline and that’s the end of the transfer window. Beyond that, I’m in open dialogue with Harry and with the club on a regular basis.

“I’ve said to them that if the status quo changes, then inform me. I don’t need to know about the comings and goings in between. I just want to deal with what’s in front of me because irrespective of the outcome of that, I’m still building a team here. I can’t wait around for a decision either way to get going. You saw today that Harry certainly is invested in what we’re doing and we’ll keep on doing that unless something changes.”

After scoring his fourth goal, in the 80th minute, Kane went off to a standing ovation. He applauded the fans as he left the pitch before exchanging a slap of hands with Postecoglou on the side.

Spurs supporters had been given a glimpse of what could be if Kane stays as he and James Maddison showed signs of a potent attacking partnership. Kane converted a penalty after Maddison drew a foul with a sharp turn, and then it was Maddison’s cross that Kane nodded in for his second.

Harry Kane was taken off after scoring four goals during the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Shakhtar Donetsk. Picture: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Kane buried a third into the corner after a clever through-ball from Dejan Kulusevski and then converted a simple rebound as Tottenham ran out comfortable winners over Shakhtar in a friendly dedicated to the people of Ukraine.

Spurs want at least pounds 100 million for Kane, who is keen on a move to Bayern and could leave on a free transfer next year. Kane’s contract expires in July 2024 and he has no intention of signing a new deal this summer.

He has played in all of Tottenham’s pre-season matches this summer and will be expected to start their opening game of the season away to Brentford next weekend if the situation stays the same.

Micky van de Ven was in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after flying to London on Sunday morning. The 22-year-old Dutch defender is due to undergo a medical on Monday before completing a euros 50 million move from Wolfsburg.

Tottenham will pay an initial euros 30 million for Van de Ven, while Wolfsburg will be due another euros 20 million if various clauses are met. Van de Ven will be Postecoglou’s fifth signing of the summer after the arrivals of Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, Manor Solomon and Ashley Phillips, while Kulusevski’s loan from Juventus has been made permanent.

Originally published as ‘I certainly wouldn’t’: Why Bayern Munich’s public Harry Kane pursuit irks Ange Postecoglou