Harry Kane Tottenham future: Man Utd favourites to sign striker as Teddy Sheringham urges him not to waste career

As we get closer to the Premier League returning, already the talk will switch to just what happens when the current campaign is finally completed - most notably what will happen when the next transfer window opens.

Among the more juicy storylines is the future of England captain Harry Kane, who, thanks to his own admissions and continued talk from those in and around Spurs and football in general, may just do the unthinkable and leave Tottenham in the summer.

Former Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham is the latest to add his voice to the conversation, urging Kane to make the most of his career and not waste his chances of winning trophies - something Tottenham haven't done for 12 years.

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"At the moment, his career at Spurs has been on a steady forward trajectory, but I think he may be at a crossroads," Sheringham told Sky Sports' Football Show.

"If not this year, if they haven't won anything or don't look like they are going forwards next season, there could be changes.

"Harry has only got one career and he wants to win things. My advice would be that you only get one career, make sure you make the most of it."

Kane ready to leave Spurs

That quote sits in line with one from the man himself, as Kane recently told Jamie Redknapp on social media that he would be prepared to leave if he thought the team wasn't progressing.

"I love Spurs, I’ll always love Spurs, but it’s one of those things I’ve always said that if I don’t feel we’re progressing as a team or going in the right direction then I’m not someone to just stay there just for the sake of it.

"I’m an ambitious player. I want to improve, I want to get better and become one of the top, top players so it all depends on how we progress as a team."

In Sheringham, there's a man who knows only too well what making the step up can do - as he moved from Spurs to Manchester United in 1997 and pocketed three Premier League winners' medals along with the Champions League and FA Cup.

And according to the bookies Kane is most likely to make the same trip to Old Trafford as Sheringham, if he decides to leave Spurs.

Who are favourites to sign Harry Kane?

Now it must be said that Kane is odds-on to remain at Spurs and these transfer betting markets are low-value and easily moved around, but Man Utd have remained the favourite transfer option for some time now.

Kane's around a 6/4 shot to move to Old Trafford, with Real Madrid (13/2), Barcelona (12/1) and Manchester City (14/1) the only other realistic options.

What will decide Kane's future?

Kane is 26, so the clock is ticking and at the very most he's got one more trophyless season at Tottenham left in him before he surely calls it a day and goes looking elsewhere.

And at this point in time his only possible destination in England is Manchester. Either of the all-powerful Spanish duo would be a big draw too, and they could afford both the fee and wages involved in such a big-name transfer - and at Barca who wouldn't want to see Kane and Messi do their thing up front?

Kane wants, and you feel needs to, prove himself in England though, he won't want to join the list of 'best players never to have won the Premier League' that's for sure, and if Man Utd were slightly further along in their evolution it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Kane at Old Trafford this summer.

These last nine games then could be huge in determining Kane's future, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have to show that United are still on the right track - that Paul Pogba can indeed be that world-class star now he can play alongside Bruno Fernandes.

Odion Ighalo managed to score goals in that team, imagine what Kane could do? I'm not sure the England skipper would fancy it just now though, unless Manchester United can guarantee they'd be splashing out on other big-name signings alongside him this summer.

Man City may be 14/1 outsiders but if I were in their shoes I'd give Daniel Levy a blank cheque as Sergio Aguero is getting no younger and you get guaranteed goals for years to come in Kane - that could be the difference in winning the Champions League - whenever they're back in it.

A final decider is, of course, what the coronavirus pandemic will do for football and football finances.

Levy is the shrewdest operator around but he'll know deep down if he needs to cash-in on his star man to keep Spurs going financially, and give Jose Mourinho money of his own to spend.

What effects this crisis has on the pockets of Man Utd could also be key given that, regardless of global finances, this transfer won't come cheap.

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