Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy Must Break Wage Structure
Complications have arose as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy must figure out a way to pay Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris otherwise they won’t sign a new deal anytime soon.
With reports stating that Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris are seeking a pay raise that will increase their salary to six figures, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is facing a conundrum in front of him.
Lloris’ current contract sees him earn £80,000-a-week, a contract extension he signed two summers ago and a month after Mauricio Pochettino was named Spurs’ new manager. This was a deal that the Frenchman was pleased with after speaking to both Levy and Pochettino on the direction of the club moving forward.
“I spoke with the Chairman and I know the Club is as ambitious as ever,” Lloris said back in July 2014. “It’s very important to feel at home at a club and for my family to feel well.”
“I enjoy a great relationship with the Club and the fans. The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino is important as well. I have a good feeling with him. He is also ambitious.”
“Everything is clear in my head and if I’ve signed a new contract it’s because I trust the Club and I’m sure we will progress in a positive way.”
Fast forward two years since signing a contract extension and Spurs have indeed been making progress, finishing third in the Premier League (their best-ever finish in the Premier League era) and securing just their second Champions League berth in club history.
Helping Tottenham have the joint-best defensive record last term, alongside Manchester United, is one reason why the Frenchman believes he deserves a pay raise. Being one of the world’s best goalkeepers and one of the top shot-stoppers in England further cements his firm stance that he should be one of the club’s highest earners.
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Harry Kane also believes that his past production warrants compensation too.
Since being given a chance by Mauricio Pochettino two years ago, in a span of six months from August 2014 to January 2015 — where Kane only became a full-time starter in November — a then-21-year-old bagged 20 goals in all competitions.
Because of his scintillating form, the Englishman was quickly rewarded with a five-and-a-half year extension paying the young striker £60,000-a-week.
Kane would end his 2014-15 season with 31 total goals. He followed that campaign up with 28 goals, winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot award with 25 league goals in his first full year as a starter.
It should come as no surprise that like Hugo Lloris, Harry Kane is the best player at his position on this Spurs squad and was awarded a contract extension and a pay raise.
Now that Tottenham are doing well since Pochettino became manager, progressing in the Premier League the past two years, both Lloris and Kane feel another increase in their salaries should be met after the work they have done. And they’re not wrong.
This is something that Daniel Levy must allow — breaking his wage structure — in order to keep Spurs’ top two players with the club for a long time.
Re-signing a plethora of top talents back in September was a great move by Levy as this will keep Mauricio Pochettino’s squad together for the foreseeable future, but it could be argued that Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris should be the club’s top two priorities to secure long-term.
Not only are they the best at their positions, but they’re what helps make this team run smoothly from scoring goals to preventing teams from scoring.
While no player has received a six-figure contract during Levy’s reign as Spurs’ chairman, it’s about time that those days are over.
Next: Tottenham Facing Pushback Over Wage Structure
Thankfully time is on Daniel Levy’s side, as both have at least three years left before their current contract expires. There should be no reason why Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris can’t be paid the amount that they want — salaries that are actually quite low when they could earn more elsewhere.
Should Spurs not put aside enough money from any sales they make and consistently finish in the top four year-in year-out, Kane and Lloris will most likely hold out until their demands are met.