Legendary football striker of England Alan Shearer. /CFP
Harry Kane's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich is a done deal, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Kane is only 47 goals away from matching the 260-goal Premier League record kept by Alan Shearer. Kane's departure means that Shearer won't have to worry about his record being broken for years to come.
"Take away all the jokes, I do think he's making the right decision. Why? He had one of his best seasons ever for Spurs last time and they weren't in contention," Shearer said of Kane's decision of joining Bayern in The Athletics' Q&A with subscribers on Friday. "He's now going to a giant of a football club who will be pushing to win the Champions League. They are a massive, massive club. And if he has two or three good years over there, he can still come back and have a go at my record."
Bayern had a very disappointing 2022-23 season during which they were eliminated early in both the UEFA Champions League and the DFB-Pokal. The departure of their long-time ace scorer Robert Lewandowski caused a serious lack of offensive efficiency, especially in clutch time. Kane, who netted 32 goals and eight assists in 49 games for Hotspur last season, is exactly what Bayern need.
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur dribbles in the pre-season friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, August 6, 2023. /CFP
"They are different kinds of players – Lewandowski is more of an out-and-out No. 9 and would be less likely to drop deep, but they are also both goal machines. Lewandowski is older (34) and you wouldn't want him doing that kind of work at that age, but Harry is younger and more mobile and is brilliant at it. They are both phenomenal," Shearer said of comparing the two top scorers.
According to Shearer, he offered support to Kane "at various points of his career," but Kane has never asked him for advice about if he should go to Bayern. "If he had asked me, I would have told him to leave Spurs two years ago!" Shearer said.
Shearer spent most of his career in Newcastle United. After the takeover by a consortium of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners, and the Reuben Brothers in 2021, the club now has one of the deepest pockets on the transfer market. They acquired Sandro Tonali for 64 million euros (about $70.2 million) from AC Milan, Harvey Barnes for 44 million euros (about $48.2 million) from Leicester City and Tino Livramento for 37.2 million euros (about $40.8 million) from Southampton this summer.
A statue of Alan Shearer outside St. James Park in Newcastle, England, December 31, 2022. /CFP
"My prediction for Newcastle is fifth, which would probably be good enough for the Champions League again," Shearer predicted for his old club. "Eddie Howe has so many options now. I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic. I think other teams have strengthened, but I think in the circumstances and with those extra matches to consider, fifth would be an excellent achievement."
Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League last season and, thus, returned to the Champions League again after a 20-year-long absence. The last time they were in the tournament, they made it out of the first group stage, but were knocked out in the second one.
"That's difficult to answer without knowing who will be in Newcastle's group," Shearer said when asked if he thinks the club can go further this time than they did during the 2002-03 campaign "But I think we'll have enough to get beyond that stage (second group stage, so last 16), in large part because of the St James' Park effect. Nobody will relish playing us at home.”
In Shearer's predictions for the 2023-24 Premier League season, the top four will be Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United in order while Luton, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest will be relegated.