Gary Lineker explains theory behind Harry Kane’s failed summer transfer
Gary Lineker has revealed why he thinks Harry Kane’s proposed transfer to Manchester City did not happen this summer.
Kane took his future into his own hands at the end of last season after an interview with Gary Neville.
Suggestions had emerged that the 28-year-old would look to move on from Spurs after Euro 2020. Those rumours were substantiated by Kane himself who admitted on Gary Neville’s The Overlap podcast his career was at a crossroads.
Kane said: “I think so. I think it’s definitely a conversation to be had with the club.
“Yeah, I want to be playing in the biggest games, the biggest moments…I hope that we can have that conversation.
“I’m sure that [Daniel Levy] will want to set out the plan of where he sees it. But ultimately it’s going to be down to me and how I feel and what’s going to be the best for me and my career this moment in time.”
Kane held negotiations with Levy, but the club’s public stance was always that the striker would not be allowed to leave.
Man City reportedly offered £100m for the striker’s signature, but Tottenham chief Levy held firm. His asking price was £160m, putting Kane way out of reach for most clubs.
It’s understood Kane was pushing for a move to City, but a transfer never materialised. And Kane then released a statement on Twitter last month claiming he will be “staying at Spurs this summer”.
And former Spurs striker and TV anchor Gary Lineker thinks he knows why.
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Speaking to Football Daily, Lineker said: “I haven’t got a crystal ball but it did seem like this summer or never.
“Who knows what will happen? Who knows what did happen behind closed doors?
“But we know Harry’s a great professional, he loves Tottenham and he will give everything because he’s a good pro and he will continue to score goals wherever that may be.
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‘Circumstances can change’
“Circumstances can change, who knows, in a years’ time he might be somewhere else.
“I know what it’s like and how difficult it is to leave the club you supported as a kid, I grew up in Leicester when I started playing football then I played for the club and it was hard to leave.
“Actually I saw my contract out deliberately as I felt there was a stage where I might need to move on. I didn’t want to walk out on a contract with Leicester so I let it run out, then I went to Everton.
“I just felt I needed to progress my career. And I think Harry was going through that but I just don’t think he was strong enough in his conviction against Tottenham to do that. But who knows in the future.“
Kane remains under contract at Spurs until 2024 after signing a six-year extension back in 2018. Whether or not he will look to sign a new deal remains to be seen. But his comments, via Twitter, suggest he may be looking seriously at his future again next summer.
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