Tottenham: Kane wage demands; Injury crisis mounts; youngster trains with England

By Dan Zeqiri

Harry Kane has returned home early from England duty to build up his fitness levels, but could be set for a contract stand off with Spurs. Kane currently earns £60,000 per week, but his representatives are angling for a fresh deal that will double his wages. Tottenham signed up a raft of first-team players on new contracts earlier in the season, but Kane and Erik Lamela are yet to put pen to paper. Summer signing Moussa Sissoko is on a more lucrative deal, and it is understandable that Kane wants a wage that reflects his status within the squad. Sissoko has been underwhelming so far at White Hart Lane, while Kane is Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice striker. A report in the Telegraph reads:

“Despite tying a number of their top players to new deals over recent months, Spurs are not in talks with star duo Kane or goalkeeper Hugo Lloris because of the barrier caused by chairman Daniel Levy’s wage structure.

“Levy’s tight grip on the wage bill means that no Tottenham player pockets £100,000-a-week, with Lloris the top earner on around £80,000-a-week and Kane’s current contract that he signed in February last year worth £60,000-a-week.

“Kane still has three-and-a-half years to run on his present deal and Tottenham would not consider any bids for the England international, despite interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.”

Though the latest TV deal promises a windfall of new cash, a stadium move can lead to a difficult period financially. Spurs’ fierce rivals Arsenal now all about the restrictive effects a new home can bring; the Gunners struggled to compete for their first-choice transfer targets because they could not match wage demands, and had to sell their best players to rivals. There is no suggestion that Tottenham will have to do the same, but nevertheless it is important that they tie down their key assets. There would be no shortage of suitors for Kane, who has scored more than 20 Premier League goals in consecutive seasons. England internationals always carry a premium too.

Elsewhere, the Evening Standard are reporting that Tottenham could be without seven first-team players as an injury crisis mounts ahead of their league clash with West Ham. Despite a positive result and performance at Arsenal, Pochettino’s side are still without a win in seven and Saturday’s clash at the Lane is a good opportunity to get back to winning ways. Christian Eriksen is the latest player who could be ruled out, after Moussa Dembele and Vincent Janssen limped off during Holland’s 1-1 draw with Belgium last week. Dele Ali, Toby Alderweireld and Lamela all missed the north London derby with injury.

Finally, 17-year-old Spurs youth player Declan Duncan took part in England training at the club’s Enfield training ground. Gareth Southgate’s England side are using the first-class facility before tonight’s friendly against Spain at Wembley. Southgate needed an extra body for an 11v11 session, and Duncan was nominated by Tottenham under-21s coach and former England international Ugo Ehiogu to make the step up.

Featured image: All rights reserved by Christine Sanjaya