Tottenham interim manager Ryan Mason has dismissed the notion that Harry Kane waving to fans was a farewell gesture after the England captain scored in Saturday’s final home game against Brentford.
On the day many expect to be Kane’s final home match for Spurs before a possible summer move away from his boyhood club, the 29-year-old produced another moment of magic but was left disappointed at full-time. A double from Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa sealed the victory for the visitors, leaving Spurs with a chance to finish as low as ninth.
Kane’s 28th goal of the season was one of his best, curling in a brilliant effort from outside the box following a free-kick. Only Erling Haaland has scored more this season, and with one game remaining, it is the second-best scoring season of his career – one against West Ham would tie it, two next week would equal his 30-goal season of 2017/18, and a hat-trick would set a new personal best.
Despite this, Tottenham is expected to finish at least ten points lower than last year and may also score fewer goals.
It hasn’t been for a lack of effort on Kane’s part, who has scored 11 goals to help the Spurs win 11 games this season. Nobody has more.
All of this points to Kane having a potentially career-defining summer. He’s been linked with a move away, with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich among the clubs interested. All three clubs are in need of a new striker and are lining up to sign Victor Osimhen.
Kane will enter the final year of his contract at the same time, with no progress made toward extending his current contract.
It also coincides with Spurs’ inability to name a manager for the 2023/24 season. As a result, when Kane waved to the few fans who remained at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, many saw it as more than a simple thank you.
Mason, who is still in the running for the job of head coach, addressed this by saying, “He waves at the crowd every season.” I saw him waving two years ago, and you [reporters]thought he was leaving. He was simply thanking the fans, as he does each year.”
Kane is already the highest-scoring player in Tottenham and England history, and he is only 60 goals away from breaking the Premier League record. It has long been assumed that Kane’s ambition would keep him in England, and the desire of Manchester United and Chelsea – now set to be coached by Mauricio Pochettino, the man who gave him his breakthrough – to sign him adds to the uncertainty.
Manchester City was vying for his signature in the summer of 2021, but with Tottenham struggling on and off the field, Kane’s every move is being scrutinized.
After the defeat to Brentford, he joined his teammates in a lap of the pitch, emerging shortly after the end-of-season awards on the field, which went down poorly with fans predictably.
Protests were also directed at Daniel Levy, but supporters’ message to Kane remains unchanged. ‘We’d like you to stay.’
