As Tottenham prepares to host Manchester United, Harry Kane must weigh his options.
Beyond the obvious thoughts on preparation and the match itself – the whites of the posts and Heung-min Son in his peripheral vision, and the notion that Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof may give him an easier night than Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez – what is Kane truly thinking?
Spurs are two spots and six points below their opponent in the Premier League standings, but they are headed in opposite directions.
United are on the ascent, with one trophy already won (more than Spurs have ever given their all-time leading scorer), another final to look forward to, and Champions League qualification looking like a good chance after three consecutive league victories.
Meanwhile, Tottenham is in turmoil. They were without a manager, humiliated on the field by Newcastle, and humiliated off the field by their offer to reimburse the fans who made the journey.
Tonight, they will enter the prestigious Tottenham Hotspur Stadium braced for the reaction of the enormous South Stand’s 17,500 spectators. It is unlikely to be favorable.
Kane, a beloved Spurs legend, stands in the midst of all this, undoubtedly weighing his future at the club, sensing it’s now or never if he wants to have any medals to show for his efforts when he hangs up his golden boots.
A little under a year ago, Spurs defeated Arsenal in a high-stakes game that effectively rescued their season, helped them qualify for the Champions League, and pushed back the difficult question of his future.
This time, however, it feels a bit late for that. Kane, who has just one year remaining on his contract and whose 30th birthday is approaching, may be closer than ever to the exit door, as he no longer has a shot at a trophy and a top-four finish appears unlikely.
And it is tonight’s opponents, the club hoping to kick Spurs while they’re down, who appear to be the most motivated to ultimately lure the England captain away from Spurs.
A victory tonight, coupled with the heightened anxiety that a loss will cause their opponents, could be an additional step toward concluding the deal.
Daniel Levy could still draw a rabbit out of the hat in the form of Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique, but Kane has been in this position before and is unlikely to want to return.
Spurs don’t want him to leave, and Levy will put up a fight, but if they lose tonight, Kane may believe it’s too late.
As Tottenham prepares to host Manchester United, Harry Kane must weigh his options.