Should Harry Kane sign new Spurs contract or seek trophies?

Harry Kane now has simply two gamers above him within the all-time Premier League goal-scoring chart, and every presents a special signpost on the fork within the street his profession has reached.

After netting his two hundredth aim in English soccer’s high flight this month, Kane has solely Wayne Rooney (208) and Alan Shearer (260) to chase down in his pursuit of one other prestigious report. Shearer selected to hitch and energy his hometown membership (Newcastle United) after profitable one league title at Blackburn Rovers, whereas Rooney left his (Everton) to win trophies at Manchester United. Which street would possibly Kane take? He’s already Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time high scorer, and the England report might be his the subsequent time he finds the web in a world fixture, too, however are these information sufficient to fulfill him?

It was Shearer who turned down the prospect to maneuver to Man United in 1996, then the dominant pressure in England, in favour of becoming a member of Newcastle. Ultimately, he selected to prioritise his longstanding affinity with one membership over the near-certain assure of silverware with one other.

“There is not one minute of any day I look back at my career and say I wish had gone to Manchester United because I would have won medals,” Shearer stated earlier this month. It’s in all probability what somebody with a surprising scoring report, however one solitary league winner’s medal, would say.

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It stays borderline inexplicable {that a} participant as relentlessly environment friendly in entrance of aim as Shearer gained the Premier League on just one event, with Blackburn in 1995. Shearer stood within the Gallowgate End at St James’ Park as a teenager and felt the lure of “achieving my dream” of taking part in for Newcastle too nice to withstand.

“Harry has the Tottenham record and will have a statue, will get the England record and probably a statue at Wembley, and there’s a good chance the Premier League record,” Shearer continued. “They are his medals. He is the only one who can answer it, if he can say, ‘I’m the happiest guy alive, I have all the records, I might not have a trophy, but I’m happy.'”

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The jury continues to be out on how Kane feels now. But it’s ominous for Tottenham that he tried to pressure an exit in 2021, believing Spurs have been ill-equipped to fulfill his need to win silverware having gained nothing to that time, regardless of establishing himself as one of many most interesting strikers of his technology.

Kane’s contract expires in 2024, and the scenario is more likely to attain a tipping level this summer time, significantly if Spurs miss out on Champions League soccer and lengthen their anticipate a trophy to fifteen years. Tottenham will need to hold their star man and tie him to a new contract. Kane turns 30 in July and though he’s in supreme bodily situation, a footballer’s typical lifespan suggests the subsequent deal — wherever he indicators it — would be the final main long-term dedication of his taking part in profession.

The excellent news for Tottenham is that Kane’s choices have narrowed since 2021. After Manchester City did not persuade Spurs to permit him to go away — sources advised ESPN on the time that City by no means received near matching Daniel Levy’s £150 million valuation — they gained the Premier League (once more) and not using a No. 9, after which signed Erling Haaland.

A transfer to Chelsea is sophisticated given the animosity between the 2 London rivals, however that didn’t solely put the Blues off on the time; nevertheless, they ended up plumping for Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for much less cash and fewer problem. Lukaku’s return did not precisely go to plan — he is again at Inter on mortgage — and Kane’s potential availability would absolutely curiosity a group struggling to attain (23 objectives in 23 league video games tells its personal story), however Levy continues to be reluctant to do a take care of Chelsea and in any case, the Blues have Christopher Nkunku arriving in the summertime from RB Leipzig.

Liverpool dedicated a club-record £85m on Darwin Nunez solely final summer time and, having additionally signed Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven within the January window, are prioritising a transfer for a midfielder this summer time, with Jude Bellingham high of their checklist and Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount additionally into account.

Kane was launched by Arsenal at 8 years previous, however letting their prized participant be part of their north London rivals is unthinkable in any circumstances — and in any case, the Gunners have Gabriel Jesus coming back from harm — which leaves Manchester United as the one actual choice left in England.

Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich’s curiosity is credible and the attraction for Spurs in reaching an settlement with an abroad membership is apparent given it will create welcome distance between the membership and the results of permitting Kane to go away. The possible slam dunk that’s whereas a Bundesliga title — Bayern have now gained the league for a decade straight, although this season is shaping as much as be a a lot nearer race — would attraction to a participant craving silverware, Kane remaining in England feels extra possible.

If he does, it units up the opportunity of Kane emulating Rooney — albeit it a lot later in his profession — and turning his again on the membership he cherished for the prospect to fill his trophy cupboard at Old Trafford.

Of course, United are not the assure of silverware they as soon as represented. They haven’t gained the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and are aiming to finish a six-year drought of their very own in Sunday’s Carabao Cup closing towards Newcastle. Yet Man United look resurgent below Erik ten Hag this season, the flawed possession of the Glazer household would possibly quickly come to an finish with the membership up on the market, and the sheer scale of their international attain makes them a step up, for all of the infrastructure enhancements — most clearly their very good £1 billion stadium — that Spurs have made.

United is perhaps monitoring their compliance with monetary truthful play, however regardless, their wage invoice and assets counsel they’ve extra firepower than Spurs as the 2 golf equipment seek to problem.

Rooney took the gamble in August 2004 and ended with each winners’ medal doable on the membership stage: 5 Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, 4 League Cups, the Europa League and the Club World Cup. He additionally ended because the all-time high scorer for Man United and England. He returned to Everton in 2017 as a shadow of the participant he was, a season-long coda to his profession that started with the promise he was “once a blue, always a blue” and ended as probably the most embellished of Reds.

Shearer declined the large transfer and might be ceaselessly adored on Tyneside. Despite profitable nothing at Newcastle, he by no means regretted it. “I have memories I will hold forever and a goal-scoring record that makes me extremely proud,” he stated forward of his closing recreation in 2006.

Barring severe harm, it’s only a matter of time earlier than Kane breaks Shearer’s report if he stays in England. The time will quickly come for Kane to resolve if that and persevering with the collective climb with Tottenham is sufficient, or whether or not life elsewhere is price exploring.