Harry Kane says he is not thinking about a possible return to Tottenham next summer amid reports the north London club are keen to bring him back from Bayern Munich. The England captain left in 2023 and has since hit new heights on the pitch, bagging 21 goals in all competitions already this season.
Kane in the form of his life at Bayern
Having established himself as a Premier League and Tottenham legend, it was inevitable that during his time as a Bayern Munich player, he was going to be continuously subjected to rumours of a return. The 32-year-old does have unfinished business back in England, where he failed to win silverware at his boyhood club and left short of Alan Shearer's goalscoring record in the division. But having moved to one of Europe's giants, Kane will surely find it difficult to depart his current side, where he is leading the charge towards consecutive Bundesliga titles.
So far this term, Kane is scoring at a rate only matched by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in previous years. He already has 18 goals for Bayern across all competitions, alongside three for England. He is averaging a goal or assist every 39 minutes so far – an achievement he will do well to maintain for the remaining months of the season.
Having lifted the first major silverware of his career last year under Vincent Kompany, the England skipper remains adamant he wants to earn more medals, and can think of no better club to do it at than the current German champions.
AdvertisementGetty Images'They will always be part of my life'
Kane spent the majority of his career at Spurs. He came through the academy, broke into the team under Tim Sherwood, before really kicking on under Mauricio Pochettino. He played in multiple finals with the club he once called home, but never managed to overcome the biggest hurdle of winning a major trophy in England. Despite that, Tottenham are believed to have a buy-back clause in Kane's contract, which is rumoured to become active from January 2026. They may have that option, but the decision will ultimately lie with the player, and as it stands, Bayern remains his priority.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Kane said: "I’m not sure (if I’ll go back), I’m very happy here in Munich. It’s not something I'm thinking about. It’ll always be "we" (with Spurs) because I spent my whole life there. I’m a fan of them and will always watch them and see how they’re getting on. They will always be a part of my life for sure but as for now, I’m loving it here.
"It was great to see (them win a trophy this year). I’ve got a lot of friends there with the players and staff.
"We know how long we waited and how close we’d come in the past so it was big for everyone – the fans, the club and all involved to have that feeling and get that one over the line. That’s always important and hopefully they can push on and win more."
Thriving on the biggest stage
A player of Kane's quality should always be competing in the Champions League, and that in itself presents a stumbling block for Spurs. With competition for the four European places so rife in the Premier League, failure to qualify for next year's competition would surely close the door on Kane returning immediately. The 110-cap international always speaks very passionately about winning Europe's biggest prize, that mindset has not changed.
He added: "Bayern are known around Europe every year as one of the best and one of the favourites to win the Champions League. I wanted to test myself at that level and I’ve loved it on and off the pitch. It feels like my second home now. I’m enjoying every moment of it and hopefully it continues.
"We’ve got a great chance for all the trophies this year. Whenever you start a season with Bayern, you’re favourites. We haven’t had great cup runs since I’ve been here so we want to try and put that right.
"Then in the Champions League, it’s still early stages but ultimately it’s about trying to win the competition. And going into the World Cup, you want to be at your best."
GettyAn eventual homecoming for England's finest?
It is not surprising to hear Kane constantly repeat himself about his desire to succeed with Bayern. But there will come a moment when he has to make a decision. Should he win the Champions League this season, alongside another Bundesliga title, it would be a fitting way to end his time in Germany. Below all the current desires, Kane may still have a strong desire to make things right with Spurs, and return for one final attempt at lifting silverware with them.
If that wish does become a reality, Kane would need to bag just 48 goals to become the outright top goalscorer in the Premier League. That achievement in itself may be enough to lure him back to the city he grew up in, although there could be competition from other English sides to sign the most in-form player in Europe right now.