Tottenham’s in-form Harry Kane has again been unavoidably linked with an exit in the coming months as his Tottenham contract approaches its expiry date.
The club has been put on alert that their top striker is already “having doubts” regarding his future at the club amid hot links with a move to Manchester United. This is surfacing as the club missed yet another precious opportunity to earn silverware after being ignominiously evicted from the FA Cup on Wednesday.
Antonio Conte’s side crashed out of the competition to unfancied Championship side Sheffield United, who creditably earned a fitting, albeit unexpected, place in the quarter-finals thanks to Illiman Ndiaye’s superb curling effort. This unfortunately leaves the Italian tactician with just the Champions League and a top-four finish left to play for as their silverware drought continues.
“I think we missed a big opportunity and we have to apologize to the fans,” assistant manager Cristian Stellini told the press in Conte’s absence.
“Today there were 5,000 of them here to watch our performance and we apologize because we missed a big opportunity.”
This latest development brings with it ominous repercussions as it is likely to raise further questions in Kane’s mind over his future in north London as his contract is fast nearing its expiry and an agreement has yet to be renegotiated. The 29-year-old was heavily rumored to be close to a switch to Manchester City last season, with winning silverware being his alleged raison d’etre behind such a move.
Despite that transfer not having materialized, Spurs have have keeping a keen eye on their star striker with the hope of retaining him at all costs although in reality they could face an uphill battle in convincing him to stay as they would have to give him assurances of winning competitions.
Former boss Harry Redknapp feels the FA Cup exit could be a big opportunity as he claims there could be doubts over an extension of the top striker’s contract.
Redknapp told TalkSPORT: “I looked at his [Kane’s] face last night as he walked off the pitch and he looked very low, he must have thought ‘My god, what’s going on here?’ He’s on the bench, he don’t start the game. You’re taking a gamble.
“They should have gone for it last night and Harry should be starting the game surely? I fancied Spurs to win the cup this year. I looked at it and thought this could be their year. With what’s left in [teams still in the FA Cup], [it was a] great chance. You look at the draw last night. I thought Tottenham would go all the way but it was a poor result.
“But he looked low last night and maybe he’s thinking to himself it looks like I’m never gonna win a trophy here. I don’t see him moving, I think his life is good there and I think he’ll stay but he must be having doubts about it when they keep getting knocked out of competitions like they did yesterday.”
Now what’s left to be seen is what will happen with Kane and Tottenham over the next 12 months. Most assuredly, being knocked out of the cup competitions won’t aid their cause in any way to keep the striker on contract beyond his current deal.