The cleverest piece of play from Harry Kane before the end of the season would be to appoint a new agent. Charlie Kane advised his brother to commit to another six years - his peak years - to trophyless Tottenham in 2018. Replacing Charlie with an expert intermediary would be a more clinical move than any of Kane's finishes.
The glory glory was not about to be restored to Spurs five years ago. When Kane scrawled his signature on those papers, Tottenham had just lost a second successive FA Cup semi-final and finished below Manchester United in the Premier League table. Ie. they had peaked under Mauricio Pochettino.
The fortuitous run to the Champions League final in 2019 almost vindicated Kane's loyalty yet Spurs did not turn up in the Madrid final. Since then, they have appointed two serial winners to coach and coax the club into winners. Jose Mourinho was dismissed six days before a cup final and Antonio Conte is unlikelier to be at Spurs next season than Kane.
Mourinho's and Conte's winning streaks jars with Tottenham's losers mentality. Chairman Daniel Levy has - and always will be - the biggest problem. The club have won one League Cup since he assumed control in December 2000.
Kane is out of contract next year and turns 30 in July. He is approaching a fork in the road yet there will be a narrow field of takers.
Chelsea would mischievously relish poaching Tottenham's talisman but they are unlikely to have Champions League football to offer. United are likely to and are the only realistic English club Kane would move to.
Beyond these shores, there is Bayern Munich, yet to recruit a direct replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Bayern would all but guarantee winners' medals and an auspicious annual tilt at the Champions League.
That would be the palatable outcome for Tottenham. Levy resisted Chelsea's overtures for Luka Modric in 2011 and the following year he was sold to Real Madrid. Gareth Bale joined him in 2013, despite Levy encouraging an oblivious Ed Woodward to offer a higher fee. Bale had decided to move to Madrid rather than Manchester at least six months in advance.
United have not bought a player from Spurs since Dimitar Berbatov on deadline day in 2008. Dealing with Levy was such an ordeal for Sir Alex Ferguson he described it as 'more painful than my hip replacement'. Manchester City entered the bidding belatedly, flush with Abu Dhabi riches, and it was only when Berbatov was spotted walking through the Old Trafford corridors in the evening that United supporters could celebrate his signing.
“Dimitar Berbatov, one look at City and he said f—k off,” they sang.
The only asset Spurs have wilfully sold to a domestic competitor was Kyle Walker to City in 2017 for £52million; a record fee for a full-back. Three different United managers attempted to entice Christian Eriksen north, Eric Dier was buttered up by Mourinho, Danny Rose flirted with United in an incendiary interview with The Sun, discussions were held over Toby Alderweireld and Ferguson endorsed a move for Dele Alli.
Levy was obdurate enough to deal with over Berbatov and Michael Carrick in 2006 and he will have to have mellowed significantly to clear the path for Kane to walk out of Spurs.
City underestimated Levy two years ago and privately conceded defeat at the start of August. United do not want to approach the month next season starts without the tip of their arrow sharpened.
Kane is a tempting option: possibly attainable, a world-class striker and a prolific Premier League goalscorer. Whatever the cons of his age and wear and tear, few footballers can do the most difficult thing better than Kane: putting the ball in the back of the net.
Erik ten Hag recruited two 30-year-olds in the summer and Wout Weghorst is also 30. United have long since abandoned the cultural reset criteria of targeting players aged between 23 and 28.
Kane possibly has four more years of elite football in him. The challenge of trophy-chasing at a new club would fuel him as much as any stimulant and United's upward trajectory demands a championship challenge, at the very least, next season.
But the hassle of acquiring Kane and his reinvention as a more withdrawn forward as he approaches his 30s are cons to consider. Few lead the line better but Kane is becoming more Sheringham than Shearer and the intensity of almost a decade of constant Premier League football, as well as four emotionally draining tournaments with England, are red flags.
Victor Osimhen is younger and a more dynamic goalscorer in one of the most impressive teams in Europe this season. The 24-year-old has pillaged 21 goals in 25 games for Napoli this term as they home in on only their third Scudetto and first without the divine intervention of Diego Maradona. “Top,” was Mourinho's succinct verdict of Osimhen.
Buyer beware: Napoli also drive a hard bargain and have obtained their highest fees for Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain. Strikers tend to be the priciest purchases.
Charlie Kane didn't appear to know that, though.
Victorspurs
1
Man U should get Kane because of his play making He would help Rashford a lot because Rashford has speed and finishing Kane + Rashford will be lethal