Why Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich works for all parties
Tottenham Hotspur fans will have been feeling all sorts of emotions when the news broke that Harry Kane would be leaving his boyhood club to join German giants Bayern Munich. Indeed, it was inevitable that this day was coming and you could argue that Kane had long overstayed in North London as he outgrew the club years ago, but that doesn’t make his departure any easier to bear for the Spurs fans.
It couldn’t have come at a worse time either. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was locked in negotiations with Bayern’s bosses for the best part of the summer, but it wasn’t until the eve of the 2023-24 Premier League season getting underway that a breakthrough was finally made on the fourth attempt — with the Bundesliga side ultimately agreeing on an £86.4 million package plus add-ons.
There was still hope that their talisman might stay, with reliable sources claiming he was swaying towards remaining at the club, but all hope was dashed when Spurs supporters woke up on the opening day of the new season to the news that the 30-year-old was on his way to the airport — where Kane was briefly stopped in his tracks as Levy requested a late change to the conditions.
It will take the Tottenham fans some time to get over the despair and devastation they are feeling and it’s a massive blow for their side in the Premier League betting odds, but there’s reason to believe that all parties can benefit from the deal. That said, let’s take a look at what Kane, Bayern and Spurs are getting out of this blockbuster transfer.
Starting off with Kane himself, it’s obvious why he is making the move — isn’t it? He’s desperate to win trophies and the chances of doing that at Tottenham are only getting thinner as the seasons go by, especially with Manchester United and Arsenal constantly improving and Newcastle United now thrown into the mix with their endless money from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Bayern might not be in the elite tier of clubs in Europe with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the Bundesliga is certainly a step down from the Premier League. But he is likely to win at least the German top flight and that’s enough to end his lengthy wait for that elusive first major piece of silverware, while he is in with a very good chance of winning the Golden Boot.
For Bayern, the main draw of Kane is the hope that England’s record goalscorer will help them find that edge to compete in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) again. They haven’t gotten past the quarter-finals of Europe’s most elite club competition since they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 final and the loss of Robert Lewandowski to Barca last summer was a big blow.
Kane can help Bayern go further in the UCL this year. In fact, some might argue that he perhaps even gives them an outside chance of winning the big-eared trophy. He also fills the void left behind by Polish maestro Lewandowski. It’s a two-bird, one-stone situation for the German side and Thomas Tuchel must be very happy.
Last, but not least, Spurs are less favourable in the Premier League tips, but they have also come away from the deal with plenty of positives. Of course, Kane’s goals will be missed. However, they got over £86m for a player entering the last year of his contract and now in their 30s. It also gives boss Ange Postecoglou a clean slate to work with as the Australian begins a new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and he can shape the team how he wants it as opposed to centrally around Kane.
