Harry Kane’s possible exit from Tottenham seems to be gathering pace, but everything I’ve read so far points to him staying at the club.
The Daily Mail reported yesterday that Daniel Levy was ready to sell the striker for £200m to ease the club’s stadium and transfer debts. However, Sky Sports added that Levy won’t allow him to join a Premier League rival.
MORE: Rumoured Harry Kane £200m Exit – The Numbers Don’t Add Up
Join the dots and the England captain’s possible suitors are limited to just four clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Even if the mammoth price quoted by the Mail ends up being halved, it is unlikely to bring any other foreign clubs into the equation. Three of this quartet are the only clubs in world football to have broken the £100m barrier on a single player, according to transfermarkt.com. The other is Real Madrid who have massive financial capacity and drawing power.
Bayern Munich don’t operate that way, only splashing out more than £40m once in their history, on Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid in 2018.
And speaking of Atletico, and the likes of Borussia Dortmund or Inter Milan, Kane isn’t leaving Spurs for another bridesmaid in their respective leagues.
Let’s narrow the field further. Kane is now behind Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Erling Haaland on the wish-list of Europe’s biggest hitters – Real Madrid and Barcelona who may save their money for one or more of this trio.
PSG will need a new megastar if and when Mbappe and Neymar move on, but their problem is perception. The manufactured Ligue 1 bullies have never been able to lure a player in his prime from the Premier League.
This leaves Juventus, who too have to plan for the future and the prospect of replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. I believe they are Kane’s only plausible European option but the cards will have to fall just right for it to happen.
If Levy does want to cash in on Kane he may have to open up the market to Manchester – I personally think City are his most likely destination. Otherwise his route out of Spurs looks blocked at almost every turn.