Tottenham need to keep hold of Harry Kane

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is reportedly attracting the interest of Chelsea

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are preparing a summer swoop for Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, an idea that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed out of hand completely.

The 22-year-old endured a difficult start to the campaign, but has now scored nine goals in his last six appearances for his club.

The critics claiming he was a one-season wonder and overrated have suddenly started to number less in recent weeks.

His goal scoring heroics in his breakthrough season reportedly led to Manchester United tracking the England international. It seems that Chelsea are now flexing their muscles and putting their best aftershave on in an attempt to pull one of the Premier League’s big prizes.

Chelsea lacking in attack this season

Chelsea has lacked true quality attacking options this season, with first choice striker Diego Costa out-of-form. The former-Atletico Madrid striker has scored just three Premier League goals this season, but due to the Blues having a relative lack of top quality attacking options it was difficult for Jose Mourinho to drop him.

The reigning Premier League champions were strong last season due to Costa maintaining his form for much of the top-flight campaign.

On-loan Radamel Falcao has continued to flop like a fish out of water in English football. For me French striker Loic Remy has been slight unlucky. He is probably not good enough to be a regular first choice striker for the Blues, but he does have the ability to be a regular for a team at a slightly lower level.

Chelsea has been linked with moves for a number of strikers to replace Costa in the summer and January with PSG’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani reportedly one of the Blues main transfer targets.

However, Kane is emerging as a very attractive possible summer transfer target, as he seems to tick a number of the boxes needed in a top-level striker.

Not for sale

Kane hitting form was inevitably going to see rumours about his future re-emerge. Spurs have had a reputation for selling their star players in the past, but only at the right price with chairman Daniel Levy a notoriously tough negotiator.

However, Spurs boss Pochettino is insistent that his club do not wish to sell their star player. After last night’s 1-0 win over Qarabag in the Europa League, a game which Kane scored the winner, Pochettino had this to say:

‘I am happy that a big club want our player – this is because they show they are a top player with top performances. It is good when they are linked. But Harry, like Hugo, wants to stay here. He is one of the best players and he is very happy.

‘He wants to grow up with us and try the next few years to try for the top four and win titles with Tottenham. This is his challenge.’

Tottenham need to stay strong

Pochettino looks to be building a promising young team in north London. Spurs are enjoying a strong season so far and are now odds of 11/8 to make the top four this season.

As I previously mentioned, Spurs have sold some of their best players down the years, with the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale being the biggest examples. When Bale was sold Spurs were being talked about as potential title challengers.

When Tottenham reluctantly sold the Welshman, the side from north London lost their way and were once again left to challenge for the Europa League spots. Unfortunately for Tottenham it was not their choice to lose Bale.

Bale could not resist the calling of one of the biggest football clubs in the world, so was always going to leave when they made a world record bid.

However, it sounds like Harry Kane is quite happy where he is at the moment. He is loved by the Spurs fans and if he needed to see that the grass is not always greener at a bigger club he only has to look at Bale’s treatment at the hands of the Madrid fans and press.

If Tottenham have any ambition of challenging for the big titles in years to come, then it is vital that the club from north London keep hold of their talismanic striker. If they lose Kane then all Pochettino’s good work building a team could result in very little.

Can Tottenham keep hold of Harry Kane?