Harry Kane has reportedly rejected advances from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai SIPG – as per the reports from Standard Sport. The club is managed by former Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas and they recently secured Chelsea midfielder Oscar for a whopping £60 million. It is believed that they made Harry Kane as one of their primary transfer targets, while Danny Rose is also in the mix. The first move was made by Shanghai SIPG not with Tottenham, but to Harry Kane’s agents. The player is reported to have categorically denied any interest in moving to Chinese super league at this moment.
Only a few days ago, Kane spoke about the Tottenham project and how it was shaping up into a very promising one.
Asked about moving to China, Kane told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Evening Standard)
“You have to choose whether to take the money or follow your own ambitions, playing in the best League in the world and winning titles.”
He was speaking just days after Dele Alli was linked with a massive move to Real Madrid. The Spanish club had reportedly made the 20-year-old midfielder as their primary target for the summer. However, Kane appeared to direct his message to his teammate by saying that now is the time to stay at Tottenham and not think about moving anywhere. Despite not spending much money, the club have become real title contenders.
A new 60,000 seater stadium is also on its way and it could cost the club around £750 million, making it one of the most expensive in the world. Even though this stadium may limit the club’s ability to compete with the other top clubs in the transfer market, it is undoubtedly imperative for the club to move forward and the stadium makes them the holder of the second biggest ground in London apart from Wembley. Kane might have been tempted by the offer from Shanghai SIPG. While actual numbers are not known, previous transfer rumours suggested that the Chinese clubs were ready to pay in the region of £800,000 per week (Daily Mail).
While the topic of money turning the heads of footballers comes about often, it is certainly commendable that Kane has decided to stay at White Hart Lane when he could have easily moved to China in order to earn the equivalent of two months wages in a week. Kane recently signed a contract which made him the best-paid player at the club. Even then, he is only on around £120,000 per week, a figure which is significantly down compared to what other top strikers earn at the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Andre Villas-Boas may have managed Tottenham during 2012 and 2013, but both Harry Kane and Danny Rose were not key members of the squad. Even then, the Spurs manager was confident that his relationship with his former club would help him make a significant impact in China.
