Why Liverpool’s transfer business would seriously benefit from Harry Kane leaving Spurs

Harry Kane’s future is very much a grey area right now. Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to keep their club icon this summer but other parties have been knocking on the door for months now and the burning question is, will Spurs eventually cave, and if the answer is yes, what price will be their tipping point?

If he does depart for a new chapter in his career, the move will benefit more than just the trophy-seeking striker. Tottenham’s Premier League rivals Liverpool could also reap the rewards of Kane leaving North London, and not just because they won’t have to defend against him as often either.

Several clubs have been in the running for Kane over the last month or so, including Manchester United. But now, Bayern Munich are leading the race for the 29-year-old and have entered the ‘diehard fans camping overnight waiting for tickets’ stage of their pursuit. The tents are firmly set up, there’s a hefty Deliveroo order on the way, and everyone is bedded in as they commit themselves to this mission. It really does not look like Thomas Tuchel is moving unless he gets this deal over the line.

Spurs are sticking to their guns, naturally, and are throwing everything at their attempt to tie Kane down. The Lilywhites are reportedly trying to get the striker to agree to their latest proposal, which includes a whopping wage package in excess of £300,000 per week. This would see Kane become one of the top earners in the Premier League, and the highest paid player in the club’s history. However, the interest from Bayern continues to burn and it’s becoming harder to ignore.

If the England captain is to move on this summer, suitors must find the quoted £100 million to secure his signature. One of the latest reports has claimed that the Bavarians have seriously understood assignment and are putting as many as seven senior players up for sale as they look to gather up the cash.

Among the players being offered up as sacrifices this summer are Benjamin Pavard and Ryan Gravenberch, who have both appeared on Jurgen Klopp’s transfer radar in recent weeks. The latter is actually one of Liverpool’s more long-standing transfer targets, as he was initially idenfitied as an alternative to Jude Bellingham, back when the Reds were hoping they’d snap up the England international.

Klopp’s prime focus this summer has always been on transforming his midfield and after just two signings, it’s already looking like Liverpool will have an almost unrecgonisable engine room next season. Signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai was a huge statement to the rest of the Premier League after Liverpool finished fifth last season. We recently took a look at how these new and exciting additions could finally reunite the Reds with the creative spark they’ve been missing since Philippe Coutinho left for Barcelona in 2018.

There is one space left on the midfield train though before Klopp can wrap up this mission — a third and final target has been widely reported and Gravenberch seemed to be high up the list when talks first came to light. Liverpool were very keen on snapping up the 21-year-old but as he only joined Bayern last summer, the Bundesliga giants were firm on keeping him at the club.

However, all that has now taken a U-turn as Bayern find themselves in their own fierce transfer pursuit. They have quickly gone from avoiding any discussions over his exit, to placing him on the chopping block as they fund the swoop for Kane.

Gravenberch made quite a name for himself while he was at Ajax, but his time in Germany has not been the stunning debut he might have hoped for. In fact, he went from being a regular starter in the Netherlands, to making just 24 appearances with Bayern, and most of them came as a substitute. So, naturally, he is searching for more regular time on the pitch and he could well get that at Liverpool.

With James Milner, Naby Keïta, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already off the books, there is room for new faces to join the ranks. Captain Jordan Henderson has also been linked with a shock exit amid interest from Saudi Arabia, and the general consensus is that Thiago could well be playing his final season in red too. These exits and potential exits will open the door to plenty of new avenues under Klopp, and the hope that they can resurrect their recent inconsistent form.

Pavard is another name on Klopp’s transfer wish list. Not only are the Reds bringing in a new midfield team but they are seeking out reinforcements for other areas on the pitch. A new central defender is up there as a priority and the boss also reportedly wants an extra man at right-back to give Trent Alexander-Arnold some competition and potentially the freedom for him to fully switch into a midfield role.

Pavard’s contract is due to expire next year, so Liverpool could well sign him for a cut price, especially as Bayern are in no position to be passing up perfectly good cash offers right now. The Frenchman’s Transfermarkt value is currently marked at €40 million (£34m), but the Reds could negotiate a sum a little lighter on the budget, having already splashed a combined £95 million on Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.

So in a nutshell, yes it would be nice for Liverpool not to have to defend against Kane every season, but his potential move to Bayern would play a huge role in their pursuit of Gravenberch and Pavard. The highly in-demand striker has one of Europe’s biggest clubs falling at his feet and with his hunger to win trophies, a move just might materialise this summer, right in time for Liverpool to burst out the blocks next season with a shiny new midfield and a laser-focused aim to re-establish themselves as top four, if not title challengers.