Debate swirls over ‘irreplaceable’ Harry Kane’s $168m move
Aussie Ange Postecoglou has the most high-profile challenge of his career to date, with Harry Kane’s time at Tottenham all but over.
Harry Kane’s time at Tottenham is all but up as he agreed to terms with German giants Bayern Munich in a staggering $AUD168 million deal.
Although the switch has not been made official, it is only the formalities such as a medical test left to be completed, and Kane is almost certain to be a Bayern player before Tottenham play their Premier League opener against Brentford.
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Harry Kane to FC Bayern, here we go! Deal completed between all parties as Kane has given final green light 🚨🔴
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2023
Tottenham to receive €100m fixed fee plus add-ons up to €20m package.
Kane will sign a four year deal, he’ll fly to Germany today.
Medical booked. Done deal. pic.twitter.com/iervbXzkwt
The move brings an end to Kane’s time at Tottenham dating as far back as 2004 when he first joined the club’s academy.
Nearly 20 years later, Kane etched himself in Spurs folklore after eclipsing Jimmy Greaves to become the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 280 from 435 appearances.
He’s also within touch of Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals.
Despite all of his personal achievements, Kane has never been able to get his hands on any silverware.
Tottenham came closest to winning a trophy when they made the Carabao Cup final in 2015 and 2021 as well as the Champions League final in the 2019.
If it is trophies he is after, Kane is headed to the right place given Bayern have won 18 trophies in the past decade.
Essentially Kane’s decision has boiled down to what he wants more: medals or individual accolades.
The Telegraph’s Jason Burt believes the former holds greater weight, especially since records are made to be broken.
“They remain forever,” Burt wrote.
“They are permanent. They cannot be taken away. They are what players strive for. Records should be the by-product of success and not its definition and Kane has more chance of winning at Bayern than he does at Spurs.
“No-one would dispute that.”
The number of trophies of a number of ex-Tottenham stars is something The Times’ Henry Winter pointed out as a reason why Kane should feel comfortable with making the move.
“He must surely look at the medal hauls of former teammates who moved on from Spurs: Kyle Walker, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric have 11 Champions Leagues between them,” Winter said.
“The game is about glory, as they say at Spurs, and the best glory is the one that glistens with silverware.”
However, there is a strong counterargument to be made.
Bayern have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles, which is why The Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson wonders if winning the league holds much gravitas.
“In 20 years will it be better to be remembered as the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, or as the second topscorer in Premier League history who won a couple of German titles at the end of his career?” Wilson said.
“Would it matter if Kane, say, reached 300 Premier League goals but won nothing?”
Another argument for Kane to stay at Tottenham is his contractual situation, which everyone in football has been made aware of for quite some time.
There’s only been one club in for Kane this summer but if he stuck around at Spurs for one more year, The Athletic’s Nick Miller knows the landscape could have been significantly different.
“If he waits a year, he will have much more choice,” Miller said.
“Real Madrid could be keen. Paris-Saint Germain, too.
“Bayern might still be an option: you may think that turning them down now would burn bridges, but grudges tend to disappear pretty quickly if a generational striker is available for no transfer fee. Other openings may well emerge by then.
“In short, he will have much more choice and, perhaps crucially, will have options to stay in the Premier League.”
Regardless of the valid arguments for Kane to leave or stay, it appears Tottenham must now cast their eye towards the future.
They are now armed with a large wad of cash but the downside of that is other clubs know they can force Tottenham to overpay.
But, as Winter points out, it is an “impossible” search to find someone suitable to fill the gap left by Kane.
“Kane is irreplaceable,” Winter said.
“He was two players for Spurs: finisher and creator.
“Spurs really need Richarlison to step up as No. 9. At least James Maddison has arrived to perform the No. 10 role.”
Even if Tottenham may never quite find the perfect replacement, there have already been some whispers in the lead-up to Kane’s departure as to who they could target next.
The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones claims Tottenham might make a move on Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson, who impressed in his debut Premier League season.
Johnson was inspirational in helping keep Forest safe from relegation and has been the subject of strong interest from Brentford as the Welshman’s side turned down a £35 million bid from the Bees.
Forest are reportedly holding out for offers near £50m (A$97m), but they could be forced to sell for slightly less amid potential FFP woes.
Jones also credits Tottenham with an interest in Gift Orban, who plies his trade in Belgium with Gent.
Orban bagged 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competition for Gent last season and at 21 years of age, there’s every chance he’ll only get better.
There’s also the chance Tottenham hold fire on finding a replacement this window and decide to go with Richarlison at the main striker before trying again in January.
It would give Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou enough time to see if the Brazilian is up for the job or if he indeed has to go to the transfer market to find someone else who is.
The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare said that for as big a blow as losing Kane it is, Spurs should be glad it’s happening now instead of before Postecoglou’s arrival.
“Kane leaving is seismic for Spurs, no getting away from that,” he wrote.
“Thank goodness for them though that they at least have a head coach who will embrace the challenge of the rebuild.
“Can only imagine how toxic things would have been if this had happened a year or so ago.”
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson agreed that Spurs were better off with Postecoglou dealing with the aftermath of Kane leaving, saying that the team could finish in the bottom half without him.
“Will this Tottenham team get in the top four next season? I’d be shocked. So it’s not like you’re keeping him and definitely getting in the top four, so whatever we lose by selling him, you’re making it back in the Champions League. That isn’t going to be the case,” he said.
“Kane scored 30 goals last season and Spurs finished nowhere near. You feel sorry for Ange Postecoglou but you’re talking about a team who might get in the top four if he stays, to a team who doesn’t get in the top half if he leaves. They won’t even get in the top half! They’re 100 per cent a bottom half team if he leaves.”
Regardless of how Postecoglou navigates a Tottenham world without Harry Kane, the timing couldn’t be much worse given it is so close to their season opener against Brentford.
The England skipper no doubt has his reasons for going and there is little reason to doubt whether he’d be a success in Munich.
Sure, he may end up with several Bundesliga winner’s medals throughout his time in Germany, but time will tell as to how it impacts his legacy.
But no matter what, he has left a mark at Tottenham that looks extremely unlikely to be replicated any time soon.
Originally published as Debate swirls over ‘irreplaceable’ Harry Kane’s $168m move
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