Antonio Conte believes Tottenham want to keep Harry Kane for the rest of his career, despite speculation about the striker’s future at the club.
Sky Sports News revealed this week that Spurs will not consider selling Kane, who has a year left on his current contract with Spurs, in the summer transfer window if he does not extend his contract.
If Spurs fail to tie Kane to new terms this year, then the saga surrounding the England captain could move into the January transfer window, where he can talk to clubs abroad about a pre-contract deal.
Asked his opinion on Kane’s future, Conte said: “I think this is a question for the club. For sure the club want to involve Harry Kane for the rest of his career, in my opinion.”
Kane became Tottenham’s all-time top scorer last month
“Because when you have this type of player, a world-class striker like him, you want him to stay here for the rest of his life.
“But hey, you know about football. Sometimes it’s unpredictable, but it’s not in my job to make a decision. This is the decision of the club and Harry.”
Spurs prioritize Kane deal but remain patient
Melissa Reddy, Senior Reporter for Sky Sports News:
Kane’s presence and contribution to Spurs is more valuable than the transfer fee he could rack up, especially as they face a summer of transition. with coach Conte about to leave and the uncertain future of football director Fabio Paratici.
Long-time admirers of Kane’s, Manchester United maintain strong interest in the 29-year-old but cannot afford a transfer saga in a priority position. Erik ten Hag wants to recruit a striker as soon as possible and his ideal scenario is to have new signings for most of the preseason.
United would “absolutely” explore a deal for the striker if everything fell into line and Spurs went from stubborn to open for business. However, there is no desire for a war of attrition with Tottenham president Daniel Levy.
Depending on their summer trade and profile coming into attack, United are well aware of having to sell well and comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, they could review the Kane situation in January.
United have cast a wide net on dynamic options, with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Goncalo Ramos, Lautaro Martinez, Dusan Vlhaovic and Mohammed Kudus all being tested.
The Spurs will go another year without a trophy as Kane enters the final year of his contract.
If Tottenham hold firm as planned this summer and still can’t get Kane to agree to a new deal as the winter window approaches, he would be free to sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club in January, a situation in which Bayern Munich is particularly interested in. .
A lot will depend on where Spurs (and United) finish domestically this season, as well as who succeeds Conte. Mauricio Pochettino would convince Kane to extend his contract if he were named, while sources close to the player believe he too could be swayed by an ambitious signing like Thomas Tuchel’s.
He is not at the age to “face another project and rebuild.” Kane wants to win and add trophies to a career of great professionalism, perseverance and scoring excellence. He doesn’t want to be remembered as “the guy who broke goalscoring records but didn’t have any trophy to show for it.”
Conte on his future: I am more than 100% committed
Conte was also asked about his own future at Tottenham, as the Italian manager’s contract expires at the end of the season.
Speculation is growing as to whether the Italian, who recently returned from an extended layoff recovering from gallbladder surgery, will continue as Spurs boss after failing to secure a trophy this season.
Conte said last week that Spurs could sack him before the end of the season.
“I think we have to accept all kinds of situations,” Conte said when asked if speculation about hiring other managers at Tottenham affects him.
“The most important thing to know is that you are working very hard every day at the club you are working for.
For the coach it is important to do this and to know that you are not giving 100 per cent, but much more to improve the club that believes in yourself”.
After Tottenham’s Champions League exit to AC Milan last week, Conte admitted the club could sack him before the end of the season, such is the uncertainty of modern management.
The Italian coach clarified those comments on Thursday, admitting that he has had no indication from the club that he will be relieved of his duties.
“I don’t think the club is thinking about this,” he said of the possibility of being sacked. “I think the club sees every day what my staff and I do at this club. It was just a response about my future.”
Tottenham’s last chance at a trophy this season came and went in the Champions League round of 16 knockout of AC Milan.
“I think there is not a single club that can tell the manager that you will stay here until the end of the season. The future is really strange and you don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”
“But I repeat, in my opinion, I will try at all times to do everything. Me and my staff.”
“The club appreciates it. If they keep asking me if I’m going to sign a new contract, that shows that the club appreciates what we do.” [have been] doing in the last year and a half.
