Wantaway Tottenham striker Harry Kane has cast further doubt on his future in north London after revealing Champions League ambition.
Kane, 27, is thought to be pushing for an exit this summer, with the England international frustrated by a lack of silverware and progress at Tottenham.
Spurs, under interim incumbent Ryan Mason, are in serious threat of missing out on continental football next term, having been displaced by West Ham for the final Europa League qualification place on Wednesday night, and now at risk of conceding a spot in the inaugural Europa Conference League.
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Anything other than a win in Sunday’s Premier League curtain-closer against Champions League-aspirants Leicester could see either Everton or arch-rivals Arsenal leapfrog them and snatch a European spot at the eleventh hour.
It’s a fall from grace considering Spurs were in the Champions League final only two years ago, but having come up short once again in another final this season (the League Cup), it is believed Kane has stated his desire to end a 17-year association with the club.
He said on The Overlap with Gary Neville: “I want to be playing in the biggest games, the biggest moments. This season I’m sitting there watching the Champions League and watching the English teams doing amazing, and those are the games I want to be involved in.
Harry Kane has been directly involved in 35 Premier League goals this season, at least six more than any other player:
◎ 33 games
◉ 22 goals
◉ 13 assistsHe might win the Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UQC9pXJw1g
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 17, 2021
“So, I’m definitely in a moment in my career where I have to reflect and see where I’m at, and have a good, honest conversation with the chairman [Daniel Levy].
“I hope we can have that conversation and I’m sure he’ll want to set out a plan, but ultimately it’s going to be down to me and how I feel, and what’s going to be the best for me in my career.”
Kane cut a forlorn figure as he circled the perimeter of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the aftermath of their shock 2-1 reversal to Aston Villa, applauding the fans with a tinge of emotion evident on his face, but Mason insisted that he was not bidding farewell to the club.
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“It’s normal. If anyone has been at the last home game of the season while Harry Kane has played at this football club, he has been pretty consistent in going around the pitch, clapping the fans and getting a good reaction,” Mason said.
“Nothing has changed this season to home games in previous seasons, it’s normal.”