Tottenham talisman Kane finds himself at a crossroads

Is Harry Kane the most effective modern-day footballer by no means to have lifted a trophy?

It’s an inconceivable query to reply, for any analysis of ‘greatest’ is subjective. However he actually is among the many most prolific scorers with out silverware — he has notched up greater than 300 targets in his skilled profession, for membership and nation. He’s additionally arguably probably the most high-profile proprietor of an empty trophy cupboard, given that he’s England captain and one of many main lights of the Premier League as Tottenham Hotspur talisman, each of which assure him loads of media consideration.

Kane has come near hoisting a cup in celebration. He has twice completed on the dropping finish of a League Cup ultimate. The 2016-17 Premier League season noticed Tottenham rack up a formidable tally of 86 factors and nonetheless find yourself seven behind champion Chelsea. Kane has additionally suffered heartbreak in Europe, for membership and nation: with Spurs within the Champions League ultimate, in opposition to Liverpool in 2019, and two years later with England within the ultimate of the Euros, in opposition to Italy.

Maybe most disheartening for Kane has been the truth that his time at Spurs has been among the many membership’s brightest intervals in current historical past. When former supervisor Mauricio Pochettino was masterminding a contemporary, high-energy fashion, Tottenham followers had each purpose to dream huge: the soccer was eye-catching; Spurs have been incessantly going toe-to-toe with the most effective.

There was a real feeling amongst supporters that there had been an influence shift in North London away from Arsenal and that Spurs have been now poised to affix the Premier League’s elite on a constant foundation. The sensation was backed up by the league desk, as Kane’s Spurs started to complete above the Gunners. However the interval additionally noticed Arsenal win 4 FA Cups (and 4 Group Shields) — and it’s laborious to reassure your self of an influence shift when your bitter metropolis rival provides to its a lot bigger trophy cupboard, that too throughout a interval when it’s noticeably slipping.

One of many largest tales

Given this context, it’s comprehensible why Kane’s future has grow to be one of many largest tales in world soccer — a narrative that has had loads of play since final summer season when he indicated that he was annoyed at Spurs. “[2020-21] has been a disappointing season if I’m completely sincere. We’ve got had so many alternatives and we haven’t fairly acquired over the road. I wish to be successful the most important prizes and we’re not fairly doing that,” he stated.

Sky Sports activities reported final summer season that Kane had knowledgeable the membership of his want to go away, including that Manchester United, Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea had been in contact together with his representatives. The 28-year-old was a serious goal for Metropolis, however an preliminary bid — reportedly value £100 million — was not sufficient for Tottenham to let him go and Metropolis was reluctant to satisfy Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s reported asking value of £160 million. The switch saga dragged on all summer season, with the ‘will he, gained’t he?’ hypothesis reaching fever pitch.

Each the emotional toll of dropping on penalties at Wembley within the Euros ultimate and the switch scenario appeared to have an effect on Kane’s performances early in 2021-22. After a tough begin to the season below Nuno Espirito Santo, Kane rediscovered his toes as soon as Antonio Conte took over.

“I perceive Harry’s scenario. Whenever you end your profession… it’s proper to see what you may have gained. That is essential, particularly for the highest, high gamers,” Conte stated in regards to the scenario he inherited. “I believe that when Tottenham introduced me right here they wished to ship a sign exterior, and possibly additionally to our gamers. We’ve got to attempt to construct a scenario the place we’re aggressive to attempt to win. If we wish to construct one thing to win, Harry have to be a place to begin.”

It hasn’t fairly labored out this season when it comes to silverware, however Spurs are effectively positioned to complete within the high 4. Though presently fifth (going into the weekend), the facet has maybe probably the most fascinating run-in of all of the contenders for Champions League spots and appears to have the momentum. Kane’s future, nevertheless, continues to stay a topic of hypothesis — whereas some specialists have instructed that he would possibly lengthen his time in North London if Spurs qualify for the Champions League and Conte stays on the membership, others insist that his twelfth skilled season at Tottenham will likely be his final.

Non-committal

When pressed about his long-term future not too long ago, Kane was non-committal. “Clearly my important focus is simply ending this season, in the beginning,” he stated. “We’re nonetheless in a contest for the highest 4 and that’s the place my focus lies. I can’t management what’s going to occur sooner or later.”

The Athletic not too long ago reported, nevertheless, that Kane is United’s No. 1 goal, regardless of who the following supervisor is. With solely two years left on the contract he signed in 2018, the report instructed that the upcoming summer season was Tottenham’s final alternative to command a big switch payment — and except he signed an extension, the membership could be reluctant to lose additional leverage by permitting him to run the contract down.

If United does make a transfer, there’s the chance that Spurs will play within the Champions League subsequent season and Kane gained’t. He could, nevertheless, be at a membership outfitted to battle for trophies — if United provides the England captain to its unimaginable attacking expertise, the facet has the firepower to problem even when it doesn’t strengthen weaknesses elsewhere within the squad.

For, regardless of the fixed hypothesis — and Kane will likely be effectively conscious of it — he has been glorious on the pitch. His season’s tally of 12 targets and 5 assists in 28 Premier League video games don’t examine with 2020-21, when he had 23 strikes and 14 assists. However he has continued to enhance over the season: in his final 5 Premier League video games, Kane has scored 5 and arrange three.

Kane provides loads to any facet he performs for: elite goal-scoring, top-class likelihood creation as a central striker and the flexibility to knit play, taking part each in affected person build-up and devastating counter-attack. He can alternate passes in tight areas and maintain the ball as much as transfer his workforce up the pitch or discover a runner in area. So though he turns 29 in July — not ideally located on the age curve for a ‘improvement mission’ — he’s the sort of participant one buys to instantly contend.

Hungry for extra

Furthermore, Kane seems hungry and appears to have recovered from the ankle points which have bothered him beforehand. Along with pursuing trophies, he additionally has goal-scoring historical past to chase. Through the worldwide break, he pulled degree with Bobby Charlton in second place on the all-time England males’s scoring chart, his forty ninth objective leaving him 4 behind Wayne Rooney. Not a foul place to seek out your self in a World Cup 12 months.

Within the Premier League, Kane already has the file for probably the most away targets (95), however he’s additionally transferring up on the listing of all-time scorers. With 178 targets, he’s presently fifth and has the chance to overhaul Sergio Aguero (184) by the top of the season. Andy Cole (187) and Rooney (208) are subsequent in line, however his sights will likely be set firmly on Alan Shearer’s 260, even when it seems to be distant in the meanwhile. A extra speedy goal, nevertheless, is a trophy — will probably be fascinating to see who Kane performs for subsequent season and whether or not he lastly realises his ambition of accumulating silverware.