Why Harry Kane's bombshell request could be good news for England

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on May 08, 2021 in Leeds, England.  - GETTY IMAGES
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During the last international get-together Gareth Southgate admitted he would be a “bloody hypocrite” if he tried to stop transfer talk among his squad during the European Championships.

After all, when he was a player the England manager faxed a transfer request in an attempt to leave Aston Villa just hours before he departed to Belgium as part of the squad for Euro 2000.

Now Southgate has to deal with the highest-profile potential transfer of them all: his captain Harry Kane making it clear he wants to quit Tottenham Hotspur.

It will come as no surprise to Southgate or any of Kane’s England team-mates. The striker has not hidden the fact that for the past two years he has wanted to leave Tottenham but has tried to do it in a way that did not upset the club. Finally he is being a little more blunt although, as yet, he has stopped short of submitting a formal request. Instead Kane is hoping what he regards as a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ he has with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy allowing him to go will be honoured.

Southgate recalled his own story when asked about whether he would try and shut down talk of transfers and insist the players focus only on the national team at next month’s tournament.

“I’d be a bloody hypocrite because I put a transfer request in on the eve of Euro 2000!” Southgate said. “I know I’m a hypocrite in a lot of areas, but I’ve got to make sure I don’t get pulled on that.

“But the fact was that I was just as determined to play well, it wasn’t a distraction for me. Talks will go on in the background and I don’t imagine any clubs or players would be wanting agents in during that period.”

Gareth Southgate of Villa is challenged by Kevin Gallacher of Newcastle during the match between Aston Villa and Newcastle in the FA Cup Third Round replay at Villa Park, Birmingham. - GETTY IMAGES
Gareth Southgate of Villa is challenged by Kevin Gallacher of Newcastle during the match between Aston Villa and Newcastle in the FA Cup Third Round replay at Villa Park, Birmingham. - GETTY IMAGES

Certainly, with Kane, it is unlikely to become a distraction given the focus he brings to his game. If anything he may be even more determined to perform well at the Euros – although whether or not he has a good tournament is unlikely to affect the huge interest in him.

Kane has nothing to prove. He is also wanted. The only concern will be whether Spurs’s determination to keep him, with three years left on his contract and Levy making his position clear, becomes an energy-sapping frustration.

It may also feel a little strange for Kane that England’s base, when they are not at St George’s Park, will be Spurs’ training ground with the players staying at the magnificently-appointed Lodge that is part of its grounds.

Southgate is well aware of the ambitions of Kane who turns 28 in July, although like any international manager he is also scrupulously careful not to pass his opinion on club matters. His concern will simply be that Kane is fit and fully concentrated. But he will also be supportive.

There will, however, be an immediate issue to negotiate which will irritate the England manager. His 26-man squad announcement will take place next Tuesday and, obviously, questions over Kane’s future – and whether it might be a distraction – will be raised and will dominate more than whether or not Trent Alexander-Arnold has made the cut.

Southgate would prefer the press conferences around the announcement to be the launchpad into the tournament but he will have to negotiate a line that supports Kane and does not upset Spurs.

Although Kane would want his future decided before England kick-off against Croatia on June 13 that only provides a window of just three weeks from the last Premier League game on Sunday for it to be completed. For a transfer of this scale, even if Spurs relent, that is not going to happen.

“I think it would be unlikely they get it boxed off before,” Southgate said in relation to any of his players securing a move before the Euros.

Kane will also have to contemplate how he approaches his media duties. Conspicuously he has carried out fewer and fewer – both at Spurs and with England – in an indication of his mind-set. When he has done he has not ducked his future. Pre-Euros he will have to speak, as captain, and cannot escape the fact that he will be questioned. Kane has brought that on himself and on England.

The good news is he has the strength of mind to turn it into a positive even if he now has even more on his shoulders.

As for Southgate – back in 2000 Villa rejected an “insulting” bid of £4million from Chelsea and slapped a £10million price tag on him which proved too high for clubs. The former central defender was forced to stay another season, eventually leaving for Middlesbrough in 2001. Kane will hope he fares better at the Euros – England did not even get out of their group 21 years ago – and with his attempts to finally get a move this summer.