Clinton Morrison feels Tottenham Hotspur may regret not selling Harry Kane last summer and face an ‘even harder’ fight to keep him this year, he told Sky Sports News (1/3, 22:27).
Yet the former Ireland international understands why Spurs fought so hard to retain the forward in the last off-season. He also senses Kane could stay in north London for another season if Antonio Conte remains at the helm and believes the club are on the right track.
But if Kane does not believe Tottenham are progressing and a big club shows any interest, Morrison expects the England captain to pack his bags if he could win trophies elsewhere.
Tottenham fended off Manchester City’s serious transfer interest in Kane during the last summer window. Pep Guardiola stated last month, via The Sun, that Spurs rebuffed four approaches for the 28-year-old, with chairman Daniel Levy demanding a £160m package.
Manchester City never came close to matching Tottenham’s asking price, though, as The Telegraph reported a max bid of £100m. The fee also included £25m in add-ons, but Levy wanted at least £120m upfront for the striker whose £200k-a-week contract ends in 2024.
Morrison feels Tottenham face ‘even harder’ fight to keep Kane this year
Morrison believes Manchester City could again put Kane’s Tottenham future to the test in the next transfer window. He also feels the forward, more so than Spurs, will rue failing to secure a move last year given how the two clubs’ campaigns have gone so far this term.
“I think he will stay in the summer if Conte is there and that he sees they can progress next season and challenge to get in the top-four,” he said. “But if someone like a Man City come knocking on the door, Harry Kane is going to Man City because he wants to win trophies.
“Maybe [Spurs will regret not selling]. But I think he’s so crucial for Tottenham, Tottenham probably did the right thing. For Harry Kane, himself, he’s missed out not going to a big club like Man City because he’d probably have been up there with Mo Salah as one of the top goalscorers in the Premier League.
“But he’s so important for that football club, I can understand why Tottenham kept him. But in the summer, it will be even harder to keep him because he’s a fantastic striker.”
Morrison reflected on Kane’s future and the potential for a transfer after Middlesbrough dumped Tottenham out of the FA Cup. Spurs now face another trophyless campaign after exiting the EFL Cup in the semi-final and Europa Conference League after the group stage.
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