Jermaine Defoe has claimed that it is very difficult to separate Harry Kane and Luis Suarez but argued that the Tottenham man has more to his game than the former Liverpool star.
Kane wrote his name into Tottenham folklore on Sunday by overtaking Jimmy Greaves’ tally to become the club’s all-time time scorer – a record that had stood for over half a century and one that many never thought would be beaten.
The striker also entered the Premier League 200 club with his goal against Manchester City, doing so faster than both Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney.
The 29-year-old now has another record that many thought to be unbeatable – Shearer’s 260 Premier League goals – in his sights and looks certain to clinch the record if he continues playing in England for the rest of his career.
Defoe was asked how the England captain compares to one of the greatest modern-day strikes in Suarez, and the former Tottenham man insisted that most ex-players would be divided in their assessment.
He told Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE YouTube channel: “But, do you know what? If there were say, 10 ex-players, I think it’d be 50-50. Forget all that Liverpool to Barcelona [with Luis Suarez], all that sorts of stuff. Just talking about them as players.
“Both goalscorers, Harry’s [Kane] got more to his game [than Suarez]. Talk about Premier League, okay both of them are legends of the Premier League, no matter how many goals they have scored.
“You talk about major tournaments, go to a World Cup, bring home a Golden Boot. So, I think if you ask 10 players, it’s 50-50”
When it was argued that Suarez took his game to a different level at Barcelona, Defoe replied, “Okay, put Harry Kane in that Barcelona team. Take Suarez out of that Barcelona team. Does he score more goals?”
When told that they would score the same amount of goals, he said, “Exactly! That’s what I’m saying, it’s tight! But they’re both unbelievable.
“See Harry Kane, I could play with someone like Harry, because he’s got so much more to his game. If I played with Harry, he could drop into a 10 position. Suarez isn’t able to do that. Harry has more to his game, man.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I think if they are measured in terms of consistency throughout their careers, Kane takes the cake over Suarez but if both are compared in their respective primes, I personally think the latter edges it.
Suarez for a four-year period (his final two seasons at Liverpool and his first two at Barcelona) was on a different planet from any striker I have ever seen.
However, it is perhaps not fair on Kane to make the comparison now as he is just entering the prime of his career and could continue to play at the top level for another five or six years.