Daniel Levy cannot rely on Harry Kane being surrounded by village idiots again when he tries to convince his star player to sign a new deal at Tottenham Hotspur.
The ineptitude of the decision-making from those representing Kane in trying to get him to Manchester City was laughable. It surely won’t be next time.
Levy has the blue-chip stadium and the blue-chip debt, now he must tweak the football proposition so the team become a tour de force and end the perception many fans have of him as the Ebenezer Scrooge of football.
Tottenham must take control of their available destiny, pursue success and shape a better set of outcomes than we’ve seen in recent years. That must mean keeping Harry Kane and keeping Antonio Conte.
Within reason, do whatever it takes. Whether that means creative, adjustable release clauses, phenomenal bonuses if and when Tottenham win things or whatever, they must ensure Kane remains.
SIMON JORDAN: If Tottenham lose Harry Kane, the game is up
SIMON JORDAN: If Tottenham lose Harry Kane, the game is up
It’s not a case of being unable to do the deal, it’s about having the will to make it happen.
Kane is the jewel in their crown. At this stage, and for the foreseeable future, he is irreplaceable.
Spurs cannot allow Premier League rivals to take advantage of all the work they have put in to help make Kane the player he is today.
Forget Bayern Munich, a move there would be bloody ridiculous. That’s not a little Englander, Dambusters mentality, but it’s preposterous to think a Bundesliga title would trump the possibility of winning something with the club where he has spent his whole career.
If Spurs do keep Kane and they do keep Conte, they can win something. Surely an FA Cup with Spurs would have greater value than a trophy in Germany?
It sticks in my craw as a former owner but Levy – at this stage of the club’s development, with this player and with this manager – must give Kane pretty much whatever he wants. Exhaust every single avenue.
Tottenham have to recognise the marketplace they’re in. This is showbiz now. If there is a true and all-encompassing desire – and I’m not sure there is – for Tottenham to win things then there has to be a change.
I believe in and applaud their model of sustainability and concur entirely with Daniel that the mantra shouldn’t be how much clubs can lose, but the balance has to be adjusted towards winning something.
This may fly in the face of an accountant’s mentality but sometimes in life you have to speculate to accumulate. By accumulating trophies you’ll find different marketing opportunities and a different view of the club which can be capitalised upon to generate more revenue.
Some would have you believe that what is being created in north London is much bigger than a football club. Hotels, NFL games, concerts and more, but Lady Gaga and Beyonce won’t give Spurs fans what they want and somewhere along the line Daniel has to find a balance.
Kane (far right) is irreplaceable and Levy cannot allow for him to end up on a rival’s team
A few years ago, in a much broader conversation than Tottenham, I was discussing with a senior executive at the club how football needs to evolve broadcast deals. I argued there had to be a change of direction within the game, as football clubs are hostages of fortune to those television deals. The response was: ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
Their belief is that, like the broadcast deals, the Tottenham model works and will continue to work in perpetuity. That’s flawed and is a mentality that must change.
That starts with making sure Kane continues riding his chariot like a gladiator around their glittering colisseum.
Tottenham’s lack of trophies has become the stick to beat Levy with, but if he can’t square this circle and ends up losing Kane because he can’t convince his star man they can win something, then the stick will become a cat o’nine tails. They must find a way of pushing the envelope, being aggressive, being ambitious and maintaining a sustainable outlook – but winning things.
Currently the team is not befitting of the world’s best football stadium – surely there’s no point in being all fur coat and no knickers.
If Levy is portrayed by fans as football’s Scrooge, then by association Tottenham’s fans are like Tiny Tims pressed up against the toy shop window looking at all the nice shiny things they can’t have.
Conte is like a Ferrari, both in performance and in how temperamental he can be, but with him and Kane at the club, it’s time to show ambition. The ultimate irony is that this weekend’s opponents, Chelsea, have a manager with his ‘L’ plates on and an owner who’s like Daddy Warbucks from Annie.
Harry Kane is eponymous with Tottenham and this summer feels like a massive moment for him and the club.
The key, though, is the football and surrounding Kane with winning pieces is absolutely vital
SIMON JORDAN: If Tottenham lose Harry Kane, the game is up© Provided by Daily Mail
Let’s not forget the remarkable job Daniel has done there. Before he arrived, Tottenham were a club with no solvency, no coherency, no togetherness and few achievements.
He’s put them on the precipice of being a great club, but he’s got to take that next step. He deserves credit for how far they’ve come, but this feels like a seminal moment. The club’s motto is ‘To Dare Is To Do’, it’s perhaps time they started living up to that.
Over to you Daniel.
SECONDS OUT: I’M READY TO ROLL WITH THE SOUNESS PUNCHES!
I noticed Graeme Souness reference our debates on talkSPORT recently.
It has to be said that while I’m a huge fan – not that he needs any as he’s president of his own fan club – I do worry.
I talked to Graeme about the Crystal Palace job in 2005 which he didn’t want, he went running out the door at talkSPORT because he couldn’t cope with me (that’s my version anyway) and here we are, with what could be third time unlucky.
I do hope that Mail readers aren’t going to lose our Graeme and his insight because I’ve joined the team here.
CLOTHES DON’T MAKETH THE MAN AT EVERTON
What is going on with Everton and the fashion police?
You had Dele Alli rocking up at Goodison to be introduced to the crowd looking like an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean with his jeans halfway down his backside. Then you’ve got Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the front page of magazines wearing a skirt and carrying a handbag.
As far as centre forwards go, I imagine Sean Dyche has in his mind’s eye a striker like Bob Latchford but the reality is he’s got one more akin to Sam Smith.
Tom Davies is the next culprit, adorned in dressing gowns and alice bands. There must be something in the water at Everton… let’s hope it’s not relegation.
RASHFORD MUST SIGN NEW DEAL… IT’S DOWN TO INTEGRITY
For most of the last two seasons, Marcus Rashford hasn’t earned his corn. He’s not done enough to warrant a significant contract at Manchester United but now he’s performing at a higher level, the obligation quickly comes out for a new one.
His deal, like Kane’s, runs out at the end of next season and, if there’s any integrity left in football, he must sign a new contract as payback for the support he’s had over the last two seasons.
SIMON JORDAN: If Tottenham lose Harry Kane, the game is up
