Why Kane's wife is key to Bayern Munich's plan to block Premier League return

Harry Kane's wife Katie has become a key factor in Bayern Munich's efforts to keep the England captain in Germany beyond next summer.

According to reports, the Bundesliga champions are confident Kane will reject a Premier League return, with his family's contentment in Munich viewed as crucial to their plan.

Kane, 32, can trigger an exit clause before the end of January that would allow him to leave for around £56.7million next summer. Despite that option, Bayern's hierarchy believe the striker is settled and unlikely to activate it.

German outlet Bild claim Katie's Kane's happiness has played a major role in that confidence.

The family are said to enjoy a far greater degree of privacy in Munich than they had in England, where constant attention limited their movements even with private security.

'The way the people welcomed us was extraordinary,' Kane told reporters earlier this year. 'It touched us deeply as a family - not just me, but all of us.

'The children go to school and love it. My wife feels very comfortable too. We truly enjoy every second.'

The Kanes' relaxed life in Bavaria has given Bayern a major advantage as speculation persists over a return to the Premier League.

Kane, who remains 47 goals shy of Alan Shearer's all-time record of 260, has long been linked with a final spell in England to chase that milestone.

But in Munich, the former Tottenham striker is in the form of his career. He has scored 20 goals in 13 matches this season and 105 in 109 games since joining in 2023.

Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl has publicly dismissed reports of uncertainty, stressing that Kane is 'old enough to make his own decisions'.

While an English return would satisfy sentimental ambitions, Kane's current contract runs to 2027 and includes no automatic release clause, according to Bayern.

Former midfielder Dietmar Hamann has even urged the club not to extend his deal further, warning that it 'would be madness' to renew with 20 months still remaining.

Kane's contentment off the pitch and his record-breaking output on it have eased any fears in Munich that he could agitate for a move. In interviews this month, he said he was 'really happy here at Bayern' and 'enjoying every minute'.

Bayern are five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and face Bayer Leverkusen next weekend as Kane continues his pursuit of a third straight domestic trophy in Germany.