Harry Kane’s loyalty is a rare sight but how much longer can Tottenham Hotspur hold onto their star striker?

We all know who Harry Kane is and what he is capable of on the football pitch. He is a captain, a match-winner and a goalscorer, amongst many traits, and has been for the past eight seasons. However, this campaign has certainly been peculiar.

After the England captain led his national team to their first tournament final in 55 years in the summer, only to miss out on European Championship glory to Italy on penalties, the Three Lions’ everlasting kryptonite, the 28-year-old was ambushed with speculation linking the striker away from Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs’ lack of trophies has been an ongoing joke amongst opposition fanbases, with every elimination from a competition igniting taunts and references to a silverware drought that now stands at 14 years.

Eight of those years has seen Kane play for Spurs as the Englishman made his first Premier League start for the North London club in April 2014 against Sunderland, and naturally, he scored in that game.

172 Premier League goals, three top-flight golden boots and one World Cup golden boot later, the striker has become one of the deadliest finishers in the world.

Kane is undoubtedly a world-class player but world-class players tend to win titles, and at age of 28, his major honours tally still sits at zero.

Hence why when rumours of a move to reigning champions Manchester City emerged in the summer, there was genuine belief that the striker could sensationally depart Tottenham for another Premier League side in search of titles.

It made sense, of course, it did. If anyone is going to break Alan Shearer’s record of 260 Premier League goals in the near future it is going to be Kane so why would he go abroad?

Spurs fans were finally able to exhale after months of concern when the transfer window shut in September, but something still was not right.

Under then-new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the North London outfit were simply very drab. It took little time for the Portuguese manager to be dismissed, less than five months after his appointment, with Tottenham 10th and their key talisman scoring just one league goal.

Fast forward to the present day and the 28-year-old is starting to find his feet once again under Antonio Conte, who has coached elite strikers in the past with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku all kingpins in previous Conte sides.

Although he is yet to break double figures in the top-flight in late February, the Englishman has scored six goals in his last nine league matches, suggesting that the final months of the season could be productive for the forward.

Two of those goals came most recently in yet another remarkable Premier League script as the striker downed the side so keen on signing him in the summer with a brace, the second goal being scored deep into added time to secure a 3-2 victory for the Lilywhites.

The 28-year-old is starting to once again look at his best, with his heatmap from the trip to the Etihad emphasising where and why Kane is so, so good.

Kane is notorious for tracking back when his side are without possession and releasing his side once the ball is reclaimed in a bid to receive accurate service once in the opposition area, hence the biggest orange patch is just outside the Tottenham goal.

The second biggest patch is, as expected, central and close to goal. This is where the magic, usually, happens and did so on both occasions in Manchester.

With Conte’s side currently sitting in eighth, Champions League qualification would appear to be a tall ask, however, it is certainly possible.

The Lilywhites have three games in hand on fourth-place Manchester United, who currently boast a seven-point advantage.

There is also still the possibility of winning a trophy, with Tottenham having a strong chance of reaching the FA Cup Quarter-Final with a trip to Championship side Middlesbrough to come in the Fifth Round.

It is also worth reminding that Conte reached the final of the competition in both of his seasons at Chelsea, winning the cup in 2018.

With three months left of the season, Kane could be set for Champions League football whilst also having won his first major honour. On the flip side, Spurs could have missed out on Europe entirely and flunked out of the FA Cup.

The seismic amount of loyalty the 28-year-old has shown to the club that gave him the platform to become a superstar is admirable, but his name is one that should be associated with major honours and accolades. If Tottenham cannot provide that, surely a departure will be imminent?

Kane has been patient, remarkably so in fact. However, surely something will have to change in North London if the striker is to play for Tottenham beyond this season.

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