If you were Harry Kane, would you stay at Tottenham?
By Gary Pearson
![Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane claps the fans after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - Manchester City claimed a fourth consecutive League Cup on Sunday with a dominant display to beat Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley.(Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane claps the fans after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - Manchester City claimed a fourth consecutive League Cup on Sunday with a dominant display to beat Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley.(Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1d0f09839caac519bab1515edd3e7482ffe5b170722e106324471d8fcd4de1f2.jpg)
Will Jose Mourinho’s exit impact Kane’s decision?
Jose’s unceremonious exit from the club further complicates Kane’s decision. Though not enough to alter it.
Kane’s immediate exit, had Jose stayed, would have been assured.
But even under a new manager, whomever that ends up being, and a new lease on life, Kane’s days at Spurs are numbered. A new manager will need to instil his philosophy, culture and identity while also building a squad of his desired personnel.
All of that takes time, a finite resource Kane simply can’t afford to squander.
Tottenham’s current squad isn’t good enough to challenge Manchester City as the Premier League’s apex predators. Returning to the Champions League Final with the current group of players is more unlikely than it is for Daniel Levy to regain Spurs’ supporters trust in the aftermath of the Super League debacle.
On the back of yet another devastating cup final loss, the thought of Kane entering his 30s without claiming a major team honour will be a weight too heavy to bear.
What his departure will mean to the club and supporters
While losing Kane would represent an seismic, catastrophic blow to the club, it’s time Hotspur supporters let their golden child spread his pinned wings.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to be said for a player who spends his entire career with one club. It’s a rare occurrence in modern football, one that should be met with utmost respect and veneration.
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard is one of the most storied examples of a one-club man. The Liverpool legend will forever be etched in Liverpudlian‘s minds as the club’s greatest ambassador, a player who had an immeasurable impact on the city, both on and off the pitch.
But Gerrard wasn’t staring down the face of a barrel of trophy-less career. He won two FA Cups, three League Cups, and most famously, the Champions League.
Kane doesn’t have the luxury of a major trophy to appease his insatiable thirst for glory. Then again, Gerrard didn’t win his first major trophy — the 2006 FA Cup — until his eighth season at Anfield.
Kane is completing his seventh full season with Spurs.
The main difference, however, is the current regression Spurs’ are painfully enduring.
Tottenham failed at the final hurdle in their 2019 Champions League Final loss to Liverpool, a devastating defeat that Kane will hold onto until he wins his first major team honour.
If Kane does stay at Spurs, he’ll break every individual goal scoring record that stands. But he’s made it crystal clear that his number one goal is to win team trophies.
Tottenham will never be more severely impacted by the loss of a single player. But it’s time to let the titan go. Like any legendary superstar, it’s imperative to look back on your career with nothing but fondness and reverie. In reminiscing, regret has no place.
Which, ultimately, is the principle reason Kane will decide to leave Tottenham.
The emotional devastation of losing Kane will ripple far and wide, but hopefully Spurs supporters can find solace knowing their legendary striker will fulfil his lifelong objective and win trophies, helping cement his status as one of the world’s best ever.
Next. What it's like being a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. dark
Unless, of course, he wins trophies with a Premier League rival, an improbable yet haunting prospect.
So, what would you do if you were Harry Kane?