Tottenham are facing a final-day battle for a Europa League spot after losing 2-1 at home to Aston Villa in front of 10,000 fans; Wednesday's defeat may have been Harry Kane's final Spurs home game, with the club yet to appoint a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho
Thursday 20 May 2021 14:01, UK
Daniel Levy faces the most important summer of his tenure as Tottenham chairman, according to Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp.
Spurs are yet to appoint a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho, who was sacked as the club's manager last month, and have been rocked by Harry Kane, their top scorer and talisman, reiterating to the club this week that he wants to leave.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, a 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday evening dented their Europa League qualification chances, as sections of the 10,000 returning home fans voiced their displeasure with Levy.
There also appeared to be an emotional moment for Kane, as he applauded the Tottenham supporters at the end of what could prove to be his final Spurs home game.
"This is the biggest summer of Daniel Levy's tenure as the chairman," said Redknapp. "They have got no manager, their star player wants to leave - he has to get this right. He has made some massive decisions to make."
It is a measure of Kane's importance to the club that Levy's decision on whether or not to acquiesce to the striker's wish to leave is likely to supersede identifying Mourinho's replacement.
Kane's preference is to remain in the Premier League and he has already been heavily linked with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. According to newspaper reports on Thursday, City want to sign the England captain.
"It's not a foregone conclusion that he's going to go. Daniel Levy is a very difficult man to negotiate with. Whoever wants to buy him will have to pay top dollar. It may be a case of a loan swap with some players, that might be a way to entice Levy to come to the table," said Redknapp.
"He's one of the best strikers in world football and they're a valuable commodity. Levy is going to want £100m+ and that takes out a lot of teams.
"Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd are probably the three. I'd love to see my old team Liverpool go for him - whether they've got the money, I don't know.
"He's a Tottenham legend - maybe not if he goes to Chelsea because that won't go down well with the fans - but I can picture him in that Man City team, getting chance after chance after chance, winning trophies and working with one of the great managers ever to work in football. I think it would be a good move for him."
Levy is yet to publicly comment on Kane's desire to leave Spurs.
But in an open letter to supporters before the game with Villa, Levy admitted the club had "lost sight of some key priorities and what's truly in our DNA."
The Spurs chairman continued: "We shall focus on the recruitment of a new Head Coach. We are acutely aware of the need to select someone whose values reflect those of our great Club and return to playing football with the style for which we are known - free-flowing, attacking and entertaining - whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our Academy alongside experienced talent."
Graeme Souness: "There are two prizes out there: Haaland and Kane. With Haaland, there is still a question mark, but that is getting smaller with every week. With Harry, there are no question marks. But I think for Harry Kane, it is this year or never.
"For Spurs to become what Harry would want isn't going to happen during his career. It's not going to happen during his time at the football club. He hasn't got six, seven years to wait...I don't think that [£200m] would be outrageous.
Micah Richards: "£150m would make no sense. Kane is 27. Haaland is 21. That's a bigger investment for the club because you are going to get so many years. With Harry Kane, you are going to get ready-made success but you know the problems he has had with his ankles. I think he is best suited to Manchester United. £150m is too much."
Roy Keane: "Kane must be looking at this Manchester United team and thinking 'I could be the top man up front for Man United'. Kane must fancy a United move. I think Kane fancies United. Man United have closed the gap to City and Kane would be a huge step."
Paul Merson: "If Manchester United want to challenge Manchester City over the next three or four years they will have to have a Harry Kane. They need a centre-forward."
Jamie Redknapp: "Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd are probably the three. I'd love to see my old team Liverpool go for him - whether they've got the money, I don't know.
"He's a Tottenham legend - maybe not if he goes to Chelsea - but I can picture him in that Man City team, getting chance after chance after chance, winning trophies and working with one of the great managers ever to work in football."
Sky Sports' Gerard Brand from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday:
"If anger wasn't already brewing among Spurs fans before Wednesday night, their tepid performance against Aston Villa threatened to be the catalyst for a large show of frustration.
"Jeers greeted Spurs on the final whistle, a display of irritation not just at what they saw on the pitch, but at the running of the club under Daniel Levy.
"Spurs' players did get a strong ovation, in particular, Harry Kane as he applauded all four stands, but the players looked to have headed down the tunnel for good. A few thousand fans stayed in the stadium, expecting the customary lap of honour, but as the PA encouraged fans to head home, the anger intensified.
"A small group of Spurs fans attempted to get onto the pitch from the South Stand, but were blocked off by stewards and police, and chants of 'We want Levy out' and '£60, you're having a laugh' rang out.
"The pantomime-like feel to the night continued, as Spurs' ground staff, taking down the nets on the goal, did their own short lap of honour, clapped by the fans still in the stadium.
"With around 500 fans still in the ground 40 minutes after full-time, and showing little desire to leave, the players did eventually emerge, giving a half-lap of honour to a strong reception from the few remaining fans.
"This was a bizarre end to a Spurs season that would arguably warrant a second series of a fly-on-the-wall documentary."
In the final Pitch to Post Preview Podcast of the Premier League season we look ahead to the final day and debate which sides will come out on top in the race for European football.
From the three-way battle for two top-four places and Champions League football between Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester, to West Ham, Tottenham and Everton vying for a Europa League place, and Arsenal's chances of a Europa Conference League appearance, Sky Sports' Nick Wright and Oli Yew join Peter Smith to assess the various permutations - and make their predictions!
The panel also reflect on another Premier League title win for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City as they prepare to lift the trophy in front of their own fans on Sunday.
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
