Antonio Conte has said that Harry Kane’s importance to Tottenham on and off the pitch cannot be overstated but admitted that he has no control over whether the striker decides to commit his future to the club.
Some reports over the last few days have continued to indicate that Kane is open to signing a new contract with Tottenham if the club manage to finish in the top four this season (GiveMeSport).
Conte has now remarked that qualification for the Champions League could end up being quite crucial for the Lilywhites in more ways than one.
The Italian told Football.London: “But you know to finish in the top four could be very important for everybody, first of all for the club and for the players, the manager and the fans.
“For sure if you finish in the top four many, many situations are more simple because you know that we are going to play the Champions League.
“The best players and the best clubs want to play in these competitions. We have this idea but other clubs have the same idea. We will see what happens.”
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Over the last week, some outlets have indicated that Tottenham have no intention of selling Kane this summer irrespective of whether they finish in the top four or if the striker signs a new deal (Sky Sports).
It has been suggested that the Lilywhites are open to the possibility of the striker’s future being unresolved heading into the January transfer window.
When asked if he expects the England captain to put pen to paper on a new deal, Conte responded: “You know very well that in this type of situation it is difficult for the coach to force the situation on one side on the other side.
“There is the player and the club to try to find the right situation. For sure I can tell you that every coach wants Harry Kane in his team but then there are a lot of different situations that you have to see to find a situation.
“It is on the player and the club, not on me. My evaluation, my decision I can tell you Harry is a really important player for this team, the most representative player for this team. You know the importance that he has in this team.”
The Tottenham head coach suggested that Kane can continue playing at the top level until his mid to late thirties, given how the striker takes care of himself.
Conte added about the soon-to-be 30-year-old: “In my experience as a player, when you reach this age of 30, and I think even before, you pay attention to all the aspects of your life as a player.
“When you start to become older, then you start to be really, really strong to pay attention in every aspect of your life as a player. To take a lot about yourself on the pitch and outside the pitch.
“We are talking about a player that is showing every day to be a really, really good professional. I see for him, for the rest of his career, a brilliant future because he takes care of himself, not only on the pitch but outside the pitch.
“This is the key. When you overcome 30 years old, if you take care of yourself then you continue to stay at the top.
“For sure, Cristiano Ronaldo is a really good example. We have a lot of important players, that continued to have big, big careers for the rest of the time that they played.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I do not see Kane being tempted to sign a new contract if Tottenham fail to finish in the top four this season as the striker will want to be playing at the very top level, now that he is at the peak of his career.
If the 29-year-old decides against extending his deal at the club, Spurs will likely be tempted to cash in on him in the summer and use the money to rebuild the squad.
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