Tottenham: Harry Kane has a decision to make

(Photo credit: Brad Tutterow)

Harry Kane has a decision to make.

That's according to former Spurs boss André Villas-Boas, who has suggested that the England man must move clubs to secure 'trophies and notoriety' at the highest level.

"It depends on Harry and his ambitions for the future and how he sees his career going forward," said the Portuguese manager-turned-rally-drive in an interview this week.

With Real Madrid joining the queue of likely suitors, a decisive summer is approaching. Should Kane stay or should he go?

What's important?

Harry Kane has long-professed his loyalty to Spurs. This is a club that took him in after he was rejected by the Arsenal youth teams. 

They honed and harnessed him, with Tim Sherwood giving him a chance in the rarefied air of the Premier League.

He has repaid that faith tenfold, scoring 56 goals in the last year alone. Over the past few seasons, he has established himself as one most prolific forwards in Europe.

It is only this season, however, that Kane has had the chance to demonstrate his talent on the European stage. 

Spurs have caught the eye in the Champions League and Kane's well-taken strike against Juventus in the first leg of their knockout tie proved a particular highlight. The England international is made for this level.

Where do Spurs fit in?

His club, however, are less assured of their place in the elite. 

There is little doubt at this point that Mauricio Pochettino is one of the best managers in Europe. However, there is a gnawing inevitability about the fact that his future lies away from Spurs in the longer term. It seems as though PSG, Real Madrid and the rest of the hyper-dollar cartel will get their man eventually.

What will become of Harry Kane then? Should he take a chance on Pochettino's successor? Will Spurs even find a manager capable of repeating his against-the-odds success?

It's unlikely, particularly with the likes of the Manchesters - City and United - flouncing their wallets. Tottenham, whether it be through a self-imposed frugality or otherwise, simply cannot compete.

If Pochettino - the man more responsible for Kane's success than any other - leaves, then his biggest success may just decide to follow. What's more, they could even be re-united in Madrid, with Real sniffing around for a replacement for Zinedine Zidane.

Cha-Ching

The sporting ambitions would be tempting enough but the financial benefits of a move can't be overlooked either. 

Although Kane's £100,000 a week contract is shortly to be redrawn, Tottenham cannot afford to offer recompense similar to that enjoyed by stars at Europe's biggest clubs. 

Doing so would land a grievous blow to a prudent wage structure, one that already treads a delicate line between incentivising and alienating its young stars. 

If Kane gets a new contract, why shouldn't Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min?

While it is clear that Daniel Levy is thinking carefully about restructuring the contracts at Tottenham to moved them towards bonus-weighted incentives, this might not be enough to keep Kane at the club.  

From start to finish

For all the luxuries that a gilded contract would bring, however, a Kane exit would be a huge blow for a club that feels like it's on the edge of something significant. 

Pochettino has spoken at length about the importance of his 'project' and - with a redeveloped stadium on the horizon - will be hellbent on bringing the one thing that has so far eluded him: silverware.

Harry Kane will want to be a part of that. Providing his form and fitness hold up, he has a chance to make history with his boyhood club. 

A few extra zeros in his bank account and life in the Spanish sun might be tempting but surely there is no greater enticement.

Do you think Kane should stay? Let us know by commenting below.