
The sky is falling …well maybe…
Harry Kane supposedly leaving is making headlines, tho’ from what I’ve seen, there was only one report regarding the contacts being made to his representative (his brother I think) put out by Sky Sports, which of course everyone believes because when has the media ever used sensationalism rather than fact to boost ratings? Add to this, liberal interpretations of what Harry Kane himself HAS NOT SAID – so can we assume the original claim that the contacts with his reps is not fantasy?
Hacks making things up is not new; mostly they make up things which they consider “plausible” e.g., a player is out of contract soon and a former manager gets a new job at their old club….well 2 + 2 = 6 ……. I mean it’s obvious, innit ???
Harry Kane’s situation fits this profile. He’s said he wants to win team trophy’s and since we’re not going to win one this year he won’t get to do so, therefore he’ll be leaving to do so elsewhere. Given the other club-shaking skittles, tumbling beneath the bowling ball that is Levy’s head and the prospects of there being yet another re-build, the assumption is he’ll want to leave – but this is speculation and assumption only: not verified and not fact.
What is fact is that a whole bunch of pundits, bloggers, and assorted hacks have pocketed this assumption AS A FACT and then started to speculate on his preferences and expectations from there! I mean really????
A number of things might hold this back, not least of which is the 3 years left on his contract. Now before everyone starts saying “you can’t make a player play if they don’t want to”, Daniel Levy will – he has done so before and if needs be, will again.
Now we can speculate, knowing that it is speculation only and thus comes with no requirement for hyper-emotional, panic-driven chicken-licken type stuff. But for me, a healthy pinch of salt (don’t tell my cardiologist) and many years of hard-won cynicism, lead me to question anything that is not directly attributed and that comes from people whose motivations are far from an altruistic sense of truth-sharing with their fellow man.
It IS plausible that there may be some meat to this story (the original, not the 500 reports about the report), but that itself was speculative, and whilst so much bad air might suggest that someone has taken a dump, it’s equally likely to be flatulence.
I doubt Harry or the club will confirm or deny anything this week and if they don’t then everything else, until proved otherwise, is a wind-up.
I think a Stay Calm mug and a hot cup of tea might be the order of the day.
The point is that they all left. Once a player has made up his mind that he wants to go, it is very difficult to keep him. It didn’t work for Levy playing hardball with Eriksen or Danny Rose.
I think they will.
The new managers and players have done nothing wrong, the anger should be directed at the boardroom. Support the boys on the pitch always.
Actually Mike, I think you might be right.
He did that press conference where he said Balo wasn’t the type of player Liverpool would sign. And then I think he was signed by someone higher up in the club against Rodgers wishes.
Not for Levy’s resale plans
IF Kane goes I wonder what the reaction will be for the new manager and new players, I hope they will be given the chance by fans, however I’m not sure they will get it.
Both amusing and depressing at the same time, James.
An ambition which has also eluded Sissoko! When signing on the dot for us – amidst general hilarity from the Toon fans – he said “I want to win lots of trophies.”
I don’t think Balotelli was a Rodgers signing , I seem to recall but could be wrong.
29 is not that much of an age these days; 33 is like the new 30.
Yes,that was it, success-wise; a latterday version of Newcastle Utd. We’ve had 15 finishes in first four (league) or last four (cup competitions) without landing a trophy since 2008.
Unless Chelsea slip up at Villa. But not holding my breath on that one. Chelsea will win.
So what you’re saying is that Kane is more or less off?
Just seen Ancelloti at Everton had a meeting with the team and told them anybody who didn’t want to be there to go now.
Keeping a player that wants to leave, not for money, not because he doesn’t care about the club but because the man keeping him there isn’t ambitious enough. It will be a great look for the brand don’t you think?
He did the same with Eriksen, a player that was worth about 50m 18 months before ended up leaving for about 11. Daniel isn’t shrewd, he is a micromanager that knows very little about football. This is the same man that made Sissoko our record signing at one point. He’s just a massive pillock…
Cheers Tony.
I really hope levy is there tonight and the fans demonstate their contempt for him.Unfortunately it will be water off a duck’s back.
It will be interesting to find out how the seasn ticket sales have gone after June 3rd,I think somebody mentioned.And what percentage were renewals.
I get your point about Mourinho’s severance package and knowing the way Levy operates it was probably true.
However it doesn’t negate my point about the timing of his release just prior to the final.They can’t have it both ways.
Sadly it’s going to be Liverpool. They will beat Burnley later and have Palace at home at the weekend. The cup and Europa is Leicesters swag this season.
We play Leicester last game, probably meaningless if we beat Villa. Who do we want to have Champions League football and maybe earn an extra £50-60 million, Leicester who might not be in the top four regularly or one of our biggest top four competitors year in year out Liverpool?
Thanks.
I expect change even if it’s only token, we all know where the real power lies.
I think if Levy is at the game he’s going to have a very uncomfortable night and won’t want that repeated every home game next season.
No I think Conte’s Italy were at the Euros/World Cup (can’t remember which) when we all knew he was going to Chelsea.
Big rumour of Flick coming in with Rangnick as DoF.
Can’t see it though.
As is Roberto Martinez…Give me Brendan any day.
Unless of course the manager is an international manager himself whose team are playing at the euros…
So Leicester won’t be getting top 4 it looks, so Brendan can come to work for Levy and ruin his career. Oh well, but Leicester get the F.A Cup…..and the jester from Leicester won the world snooker….just like when Leicester ‘won’ the title, the jester from Leicester won the world snooker….
Somebody’s laughing for sure.
Err.. this👆
The definition of insanity. Doing the same over and over again expecting a different result.
Daniel Levy – all the time.
yup.
Haha “Spurs are furious with timing of Kane’s statement” – cheeky monkeys. Somebody should tell them that millions of Spurs fans are furious with them. Talk about out of touch.
the guardian I believe….
I think it was all connected to the severance wasn’t it? Based on our league position at the time, it meant Levy could sack him for peanuts (compared to the other reported sums).
Apparently winning the cup was irrelevant in terms of Mourinho saving his job, but there was a clause that meant if Mourinho had won, we would have had to pay him more money to sack him.
That’s the reason. I thought it was quite widely reported.
On another blog I heard someone say N’Koudou has more trophies than Harry Kane and Harry Winks has scored as many goals this season as Liverpool goalkeeper Allisson.
There wasn’t the level of debt that the club has now. That fact that Levy will stand firm is meaningless. He will demand and get want he wants but we will still be left with a depleted squad and then have to magically find another player that would want to come to us who is even 70% as good as Kane, for the price of a Walnut Whip. That is how Levy does business and anyone who thinks that’s good practice is deluded in the extreme.
If you want to poison a team keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.
The source?
Even if he stays his heart won’t be in it without his mate. Sonny is clearly a very sensitive and emotional person.
If he doesn’t feel on top of the world it affects his game and shows on the field. Now I’m going to speculate like all the journalists, maybe Sonny has known for a long tíme Harry is going and it’s why the goals have dried up and he looks a shadow of himself.
Modric and Bale were not allowed to leave when they wanted to and each had to stayed an extra season. Berbatov and Carrick snuck out and Levy sued ManU. Since then we have had a number of players who have stuck to, or been held to their contracts. If the money is not right then Levy will stand firm.
Changing the subject slightly… but the news of Hans Flick holding talks with Spurs does raise my flagging enthusiasm.
Hitchen would be gone under Rodgers.
I laugh every time I hear the pundits telling everyone no club has the money especially after Covid, even old Pep was pleading poverty at City. £120, £150 million, probably twenty minutes of City’s owners daily oil output.
It’s alleged that Spurs are furious at the timing of Kane’s statement [or those on his behalf] but what about the timing of their sacking of Mourinho.
Whatever you thought of him,sacking him six days before the Carrierbag cup final and an unlikely chance of winning a trophy,couldn’t have settled the mood of the players.
Yes it looked like a number of them had stopped working for him,but Kane knows anything can happen in a one-off game [City lose to Brighton last night].And Levy could have pointed to a win as Spurs not really needing to tthrow money at the squad.
The club and Kane’s silence in confirming or denying is telling here.
Two things …..
1/ Kane himself could put paid to any speculation by making a statement. He hasn’t. Which tell me it’s true.
2/ The club … ditto above ☝️
Ah. Now I’ve replied twice there you go 🙄
Exactly.
Not sure what happened to my previous reply. Can’t validate any of it of course, just relaying what Robinson told my mate. Presumably Lennon and Rodgers are pals, and although I agree with many on here that Rodgers would be crazy to leave that set up to come and work for Levy, it does have a ring of truth about it and I hope it happens. Either way it’s gotta be worth a cheeky tenner at the bookies 😉
There was a very simple way to put an end to the speculation.
All the club had to do was issue a statement along the lines of, Harry Kane has not requested a transfer from Tottenham Hotspur and no transfer inquiries have been received from any other club.
The silence speaks volumes.
Kane defo wants out and he will soon learn that love for the club and the ‘one of our own boll0cks’ holds very little currency when it comes to dealing with Levy and money. Kane and his brother are naive to think that this will be all done and dusted before he heads off to the Euros.
I don’t think both go this summer at all.
But also, with Son, I think we have just had him for his best season. I wouldn’t be that disappointed if he left this summer. If we can get good money for him, he will be 29 before the new season starts, If he doesn’t leave this summer I think he will be moved on next summer.
Presumably they’re pals going on what was said. Obviously can’t validate any of it, just relaying what Robinson told my mate. I hope it’s true. Like many on here I think he’d be crazy to leave that set up to come and work under Levy, but it has a ring of truth about it and at the very least it’s gotta be worth a tenner at the bookies 😉
Here is a very plausible scenario.
Kane announces he wants to stay at Spurs and is looking forward to working under the new manager.
A week later, Levy pulls him in and says “City have bid £100m + Gabriel Jesus and I’m going to accept. The £100m will allow me to buy 2 new centre backs for the new manager, reluctantly in this climate, we can’t turn it down”
Makes Kane look like a villain, he doesn’t need to say anything. He might genuinely be on the fence. Would it comfort you if he came out and said “I don’t know to be honest”?
The club will know what he wants to do, or at least would have had conversations about how they can keep him. It doesn’t need to be shared with us yet. No point in dwelling on it.
Anyone think Son will stay if Kane goes? I don’t. This is BerbaKeane all over again. I’m so p!ssed off, I really thought we were passed this nonsense of always losing our best players. Fine, some will go sometimes, even Man U lose players to Madrid…… but I did not think Levy would f@ck it up so much that Kane would go. And yet here we are. I reckon 80% chance Kane goes and if he goes then Son goes. We are screwed. It is over. That ‘success’ we were all waiting for? It already happened. That was it.
Even historical cases where an international manager is going to join a club, the announcement is made before the Euros (Conte at Chelsea).
I think it will be clear by this time next week.
yep
It’s conceivable surely. Both managed Celtic, both Northern Irish. You would think they will have at least spoken relatively regularly.
Hopefully Matt can answer
Aye Kanes silence is deafening.. If he had no intention of leaving then he could shut all this down immediately with a statement.. After his recent games and our end to the season then I fully expect him to go… Harry the heartbreaker.
What is the old saying? “Failure isn’t making a mistake, failure is making the same mistake repeatedly and refusing to learn from it” – Daniel Levy 2021.
I think getting £20m for Aurier is incredible.
I’d go along with Lamela at £15m, I think Levy will want £35m for Sanchez as a minimum (our Daniel makes it very difficult to flog our deadwood).
But if those three go through, thats a decent chunk to give the new manager.
Is Lennon good mates with Rodgers?
That’s also what we all thought regarding Jose’s arrival…
Well I suppose he wouldn’t be the first to try and discuss targets with the guy who hates his job, but Levy always knows best and interferes, and we all know how that usually turns out.
Methinks Levy’s had too many sh-t or get off the pot moments and bungled every last one of them, so I refuse to get hopeful even if we do appoint a household name.
Yeah I saw you post that on another blog.
It’s not like Rodgers doesn’t have previous for stating he is happy and in the middle of a “project” and then leaving the next week.
Also plays into Alasdair Golds report that our next manager is currently employed so announcing it before the end of the season would be tough.
That will be a good deal and hopefully a sign that they will get deals done early.
Lamela i would expect to go to Italy for £15m and Sanchez is being linked away which would have to be £25m plus.
Yep 😔
“I am happy at Spurs and want to win trophies” – Harry Kane
“Harry has not asked to leave” – THFC Official
With season ticket renewals due by 3rd June and with fans allowed in for the first time tonight, these are the minimum statements you would have expected to have heard and it would be exceptionally nieve and irrational to think otherwise.
He’s gone mate.
Im not totally against Levy but agree if he gets this wrong any support he does have will be gone.
The pressure is fully on him at the moment.
I posted here recently about my mate meeting Karl Robinson at a service station on the m4 a couple of weeks ago. Robinson told him he’d heard from Neil Lennon (he was on his way to play golf with Lennon that day) that Rodgers is on his way to Tottenham, despite all the denials…
There going to have to appoint someone before the Euros so that planning for next season can be implemented. I think they have there shortlist and a managerc will be announced after the league season finishes.
Aurier to PSG for £20+m is allegedly 95% done.
Think the only way Rodgers would contemplate joining is if there are assurances over transfer funds.
If Spurs sell the likes of Sanchez, Lamela and Aurier there should be a few quid in the kitty for starters.
I caught that last week and thought it was odd!
It was interesting that reports from Italy were suggesting that both Spurs and Leicester were running the rule over Simone Inzaghi. Probably agents again, but odd they would name drop Leicester.
I think even Levy would know that this HAS to happen. I’ve never seen our fanbase so dejected, to appoint Rodgers and give him Nkoudou level players would be the last straw.
Rodgers has a decent track record with signings (Balotelli aside), I think he sits down with Steve “hate my job” Hitchen and gives him clear targets.
I think IF (it’s still a big if) we get Rodgers, this really is last chance saloon for Levy, has to be backed, has to get it right.
I hope you’re right. It also seems to me that if Levy can bring Rodgers in, he may just live to fight another day (in terms of the anti-ENIC / Levy noise subsiding) despite every other stupid thing he’s done over the past forever. Almost anyone else (possibly Herr Flick aside) and fans will be angry / disillusioned / let down.
Well, Rodgers and some players that Rodgers wants signed…
Yeah, out of all our ex players, I would love to see Harry win something.
Might have to be done Mikey. I put a fiver on Lewis Dunk to make the 26 man euros squad a few weeks ago when he was at 33/1, looking plausible now.
It is strange but I also feel we’ll get him. However, getting Rodgers and not backing him properly over several (!) transfer windows will be just another exercise in futility.
If we’re selling Kane, sell him and reinvest according to the manager’s wishes. No second or third choices. Get as many wasters out as we can, and then continue the process in the winter and next summer.
If we’re not willing to do that, let’s just keep Mason, just so we all know the extent of ENIC’s ambition.
I think he would be mad as well. But it still wouldn’t surprise me.
If the last decades have proved one thing it is that it makes not the slightest difference whom the manager is, because Levy and enic’s secretive business model is not about Spurs winning trophies but rather scraping top 4 (how is that going Daniel?), and them making a maximum profit for their investors.
If Harry hasn’t sussed this out by now then I’m afraid he never will. Of course he has been advised to get out whilst he can still be successful elsewhere, and I sincerely hope he does because I hate to see such a nice lad being unscrupulously used and conned by the lowest scum in the PL – namely Levy and enic.
I still think he’d be mad to join Spurs. Yes, Leicester might be punching above their weight, but Spurs will do no better under Enic and Levy, and the latter will end up doing his head in. He’ll eventually be looking back wistfully about how much better it was under the Thais.
Perhaps a sneaky tenner on that Dan?
I hope he goes tbh because he deserves to be a winner and have something to show for it. At the moment he is being used by Levy and enic almost like a circus attraction to bring the punters through the turnstiles (metaphorically speaking) which is shameful.
I’ve got the strangest feeling that we will get Rodgers. I think he might even see the FA Cup as a parting gift “look what I got for you”.
It’s no secret that Rodgers is ambitious and he will feel he deserves another crack at a “big 6” club. He won’t be going back to Liverpool, City won’t be losing Pep anytime soon and it looks like Ole is being backed. Chelsea are doing well under Tuchel so it really comes down to us or the gooners.
His post match interview was interesting last night, essentially spoke about how Leicester are punching way above their weight (“we have the 8th highest wage bill in the league but we are mixing with the top 6”). I think Levy will move for him in the next week and I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes it.
Deep down I know you’re correct. We can only hope they sell up or at least Levy steps down as Chairman in the not too distant future. Sadly, neither looks likely.
You state that ” you can’t make a player play if they don’t want to” but in the end, Levy has always had to concede. This applied to Berbatov, Carrick, Modric and Bale. If Kane wants to leave, he will go, despite the three years left on his contract. It is merely a question of price. Now all that matters is that this is concluded quickly and efficiently. The potential buyers are properly run clubs, who, particularly in Man City’s case, like to get their transfer business done quickly so that they can integrate their new recruits, unlike the haphazard manner in which Levy conducts his transfer business which is always left to the last moment with the same invariable results.
I do agree but I think Harry will go. I just hope the powers that be act as professionally as the player has and not force the lad to hand in a transfer request.
The real issue that needs to be addressed is what happens next. Levy despite building a top class training ground, wonderful stadium and keeping the club financially stable is roundly hated by the majority of the fans. Think about that. Despite his achievements the fans still want him out. That status is not easy to achieve yet he’s managed it.
Lets say Harry goes plus a few others and we are left with what will soon to be known as the “Kane money”. Now, we’ve had this situation before and it didn’t work out that well. Only the Serie A title winning Eriksen was a success. Who’s going to spend the “Kane money”? I really don’t trust Levy to do this. My hope is that we recruit a manager and a DOF and get them to spend the cash wisely with a view to try and win something on the football pitch.
The only way i see this situation working out is if the following 3 things happen:
Leicester finishing top 4 is looking very dicey now. Ironically, Spurs will have a big say in their final placing. Will Rodgers’ head be turned if Leicester finish 5th?
Problem is he apparently wants it sorted before the Euros and we will probably not appoint anyone till after the Euros!
The only problem with that is the hope will be temporary, it will begin yet another ultimately fruitless four year cycle.
This usual bites when the better of the players reach 26-27 and need to make decisions and it’s never to stay at Spurs. They know they have to leave to win stuff.
In short, there is no silver lining to Kane’s departure, either short term or long term. It’s just a sad indictment of ENIC’s time wasting and crushing lack of ambition for the football team.
We is f*cked…
He wants to win trophies no doubting that, but I would expect him to make a final decision after Spurs unveil new manager. IF its someone like Rodgers he may want to stick around.
A transfer away is not going to be easy.
He gave the club extra time to see if it could move in the right direction, which he should be applauded for. It hasn’t and it’s perfectly understandable if he decides to leave for proper success.
No fan of sky or talksh1te, if they didn’t speculate they would have fewer interested. BBC did not go full on with this so I prefer to go with their version of what it’s all about as I always do.
In this case, I feel there is no smoke without fire. Secondly I don’t feel it’s about money.
Kane wants to finish his career with some honours because that’s the sort of player he is, and he has always reiterated that he wants to do it at Spurs.
Kane hasn’t been a particularly happy bunny since the beginning of Pochettino’s last season when he wasn’t backed. Think about it, you’re ambitious but the club you play for don’t make a single signing in 18 months, then when they do they sign 3 youngsters unproven in the Premiership.
He knows that a rebuild is needed, he was a key part of the whole Pochettino cycle that in my opinion would have brought a trophy had it been sized upon by the board rather than left to go to seed.
Kane is under no illusions about Levy, I’d like to think that this is Kane trying to make a point. However the bald assassin always thinks HE knows best and would rather let Kane walk. Followed by installing various stooges and unfortunate incumbents to continue the charade for the investment company. This will be spun as a bright new dawn and we’ll be back where we are now in another few years.
A leopard never changes its spots, if Kane is indeed trying to get Levy to step up or he’ll walk then he’ll only end up walking and winning lots of shiny stuff. Leaving us stuck with this complete d*ckhead running our club for another 22 years…
This article is correct. It’s all based on assumptions, but if I was betting man, I would say Kane will not be at Spurs next season. Sell Kane, and if – and that’s a big ‘if’ – we can get buyers for Dier, Sanchez, Sissoko, Aurier and Winks that gives us a sizeable transfer budget for a couple of top new CBs, and striker replacement. We’ve got to have some hope!
The Daily Telegraph sports reporter backed up Sky Sports account, and he is very reliable.
Anyway even if Kane doesn’t actually leave this summer he is not going to be very happy at Spurs is he? Obviously there is a problem, one which we can all see, namely a crass lack of ambition (putting it mildly) and an even bigger lack of investment in the squad.
Even Kane who is in love with spurs and in an ideal world wants to stay and win trophies, now likely realises that the two things are impossible when linked. Either he stays and continues to be lied to by Levy, and overplayed leading to injury problems that may well shorten his career, and still wins nothing because he, like Bale was under AVG, is surrounded mostly by mediocrity with no depth, or he moves to Man City, wins umpteen trophies and gets the respect he deserves.
The above happy, clappy nonsense means nothing in real terms. It’s just papering over the cracks.
Great point Dan, Kane says nothing until the final outcome is agreed.
Not Harrys words, guest blog from Finn