Tottenham Hotspur may be forced to sell Harry Kane this summer to balance the books, according to pundit Noel Whelan via Football Insider.
Spurs have taken out a loan of £175 million from the Bank of England to help with their day-to-day running costs amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
And Whelan believes that a failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League could see Spurs’ hand forced and Kane moved on should interest be shown in the striker.
Spurs are currently seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and four behind fifth-placed Manchester United; they face United in their first game back when the Premier League resumes.
Whelan said: “It was only yesterday we were talking about the finances being fantastic and all of sudden they are borrowing £175 million.
“Where does that leave Jose Mourinho with his transfer kitty? They need to strengthen.
“There is one player there who wants the team to show some intent in the transfer market – Harry Kane.
“Are they going to need to sell him to raise money if they do not make it into the Champions League? You may see a big money move for Harry.
“He wants to win trophies and I am sure there will be a team out there who will pay £100million for a player like that – a complete striker. One of the best in Europe. He has everything.
“It would certainly help ease the money problems at Tottenham but how would they replace Harry Kane? That is the problem.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This is adding two and two together and coming up with 10.
There are, of course, financial worries at Spurs but they will not be alone in that; there are a number of clubs who are said to be considering exactly how much they will be able to spend this summer because of the pandemic.
It is an unprecedented situation and thus one has to wonder where this mystery suitor for Kane is going to get the money from to buy him.
As Whelan says, he would cost around £100m, if not more, and there is precious little chance of that kind of bid being made in this climate. He is valued at £108m by Transfermarkt.
Thus, whether they want to sell him or not, the financials simply aren’t right for the England captain to leave the club.
Spurs fans are unlikely to have anything to worry about this summer.