The Kane effect: Why Bayern Munich want Tottenham Hotspur forward

Bayern Munich has long made an art form out of poaching players from Bundesliga’s also-rans. Wooing top talents from across the league- names such as Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Mario Gotze and of course the great Pole himself, Robert Lewandowski, come to mind- the Bavarian giants have reeled off ten straight Meisterschales with ease. Not content with keeping their radar focused on Germany, Die Roten has expanded their raids to foreign shores. Sadio Mane has arrived from Liverpool, ditching the hot-footed football under Bayern’s once-nemesis, Jurgen Klopp. The twin forays into the neighbouring Netherlands have won them the Ajax pair of Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. Joining the gang is ex-Ajax man Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus. But it’s the Lewandowski shaped-hole that needs filling. The Pole swapped the Bayern red for whatever multi-coloured fantasy Barcelona wear these days. Now plotting a move for Harry Kane, the Munich side is willing to test the player and Tottenham’s resolve.

Also Read: Robert Lewandowski moves to Barcelona: Who replaces Polish striker at Bayern Munich

Manager Julian Nagelsmann may sound coy on the deal, but there’s no mistaking Kane’s obvious fit in Bayernball. The English forward is one-of-a-kind, as he redefines centre-forward play with every passing season. A go-between a no. 9 and no.10- a 9-and-a-half if you may- Kane is at once a playmaker and goalscorer. His creative prowess first struck my eyes during a Nations League tie against Spain. Flanked by Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, the forward kept traipsing to midfield to receive possession before lasering through-balls to the two ever-willing runners. England won 3-2 in Seville, as Kane gave the world a glimpse of his all-round talents. At the Allianz, he’ll have Gnabry, Mane and Sane darting forward from the flanks at his every prompt.

It was under Mourinho when the Kane & Son partnership began to bubble before bursting into a full-blown freakshow. It’s a force of habit now, a bit of the old Lillee-Thommo act, but with a football (and less violent)! Kane drops deep (if not deeper) while Son hurtles forward, safe in the knowledge that Harry will spur passes through regardless. Kane is also the conduit of Tottenham’s forward play. He’s often found in the vicinity of the centre circle, drawing opponents into his vice grip, only to zip a pass to an onrushing winger/ wing-back on either flank. The Harry Kane highlights reel against Manchester City is said pattern repeated to its and City’s death.

There exist ways and means to nullify Kane’s creativity, but it comes with a caveat. It works if he’s the only playmaker in the team. At Spurs last season, it became a concern if Kane was denied time on the ball. Brighton and Southampton, in successive games, assigned a midfielder to tail his every move into midfield, effectively cutting off Tottenham’s supply line. Spurs dropped points in both those encounters. But a midfielder capable of breaking the lines- either with his ball-carrying ability or passing- solves this problem. In fact, Kane can be content in being a box threat, occasionally dropping deep to unleash his vision on the ball. At Bayern, Kane will find himself surrounded by a hothouse of midfield brilliance: Joshua Kimmich, Goretzka, Gravenberch and the ingenious Thomas Mueller.

Also Read: Cancelling Cancer: Five footballers Sebastian Haller can draw inspiration from

While ol’ Harry fits snugly into Bayern’s scheme (on paper), our verdict is that he stays at the Lane. With talks of a new contract at Spurs, the England captain will assess the club’s progress before deciding on his future. In any case, Tottenham’s talisman is locked in for the coming season, at least.