The Athletic have claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have drafted contingency plans in the event that Harry Kane leaves the club this summer.
It emerged yesterday that Bayern Munich had launched an offer of €70m (£60.1m) plus add-ons for Kane but the offer was swiftly turned down by Tottenham (Ben Jacobs).
It remains to be seen if the Bavarians will return with an improved offer for the striker but it was suggested by The Telegraph yesterday that sources at Spurs feel the club would be forced to accept an offer of around £80m from an overseas team.
It was explained that such a bid would appeal to Tottenham as it would help them ward off the threat of the 29-year-old joining a Premier League rival for a free next year.
Tottenham have a Harry Kane exit plan ready
The Athletic have now suggested that despite Spurs still wanting to keep hold of Kane, they have been planning since last year for their potential course of action if he does depart.
The report states that the recruitment team at the North London club have compiled a list of readymade replacements for the England captain, ranging from experienced strikers to young, up-and-coming ones.
The club have also allegedly held conversations about using existing players such as Son Heung-min and Richarlison in the number nine role and bringing in young talent to compete with them.
Spurs Web Opinion
I have always been of the opinion that selling Kane to a club outside the Premier League this summer, would be the smartest play for Tottenham.
Looking at the situation dispassionately, the likelihood that the striker is going to sign a new contract is very low.
So, rather than losing him for free to another Premier League club next summer, it would be much preferable to ensure he moves overseas and we get a fee for him.
Despite Kane being the best striker in the world, one can also argue that he is not the best fit for Postecoglou’s system as pressing is not the 29-year-old’s strength.
Rather than asking the Australian to slightly modify his system to accommodate a world-class talent, it might be preferable to give him a clean slate to set the team up exactly the way he wants to.