Thomas Tuchel is personally driving Bayern Munich’s efforts to sign Harry Kane this summer.
And Bayern believe the Tuchel connection is the key factor in persuading Kane to leave Tottenham - even though Spurs are adamant they will not sell. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is digging his heels in despite Bayern’s huge push to sign the England captain who has just a year left on his contract.
Levy will run the risk of Kane going into the final 12 months of his £200,000-a-week contract - and believes he can even persuade the Spurs striker to sign a new deal. Bayern believe that an offer in excess of £80m will tempt Tottenham rather than run the risk of allowing him to go for free next summer.
But Levy has already scared off Manchester United and Real Madrid this summer by insisting Kane is going nowhere - and Bayern’s interest has not changed his stance at all.
Clearly, Kane has a deep affection for Tottenham and the club’s fans, is their record scorer and is closing in on the Premier League all time goals record. But it was Levy who blocked Kane from leaving to join Manchester City two years ago and it may come into the Tottenham striker’s thinking this time.
Tottenham are banking on Kane’s loyalty while Bayern believe former Chelsea boss Tuchel is their trump card especially when the German tried to sign the Spurs striker two years ago.
Tuchel even confirmed Chelsea’s attempts to sign Kane after the window had closed but any top manager’s interest is always flattering for a player.
The German media reported that Tuchel and Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić met with Kane on the same weekend they tried to sound out West Ham captain Declan Rice. Rice had his heart set on Arsenal and was never tempted by Bayern but the German club believe Kane is interested.
Tuchel now has a greater say on transfers than previous Bayern managers because of an overhaul in the club’s hierarchy and they are desperate to make Kane their superstar signing this summer.
But Tottenham are determined to ride out the storm, insist Kane is going nowhere and then hope that new manager Ange Postecoglou can help improve the team’s results and persuade him to stay for the long term.
