football | Friday, July 7, 2023 1:51 PM

Bayern Munich would be a step up for Kane says Barnes

Devang Prasad

It’s been a busy start to the summer for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglu as he looks to shape his Spurs side ahead of the 23/24 season. We caught up with former Liverpool icon John Barnes to gauge his thoughts on potential incomings and outgoings at Tottenham.

In this article:

Kane has a better chance of Champions League glory with Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich isn’t a step down for Kane
Maddison will take pressure off Kane and Son
Is James Maddison England’s Best Number 10?

Kane has a better chance of Champions League glory with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have had a £70m bid plus add-ons rejected for Harry Kane, who is linked with a move away from Tottenham. The forward has a year left on his contract, which could see him leave on a free next summer. Tottenham have made a new contract offer to Harry Kane that would massively improve his £200,000-a-week deal. However, Kane appears reluctant to sign anything so early into the transfer window.

Barnes claims that whilst he endorses the idea of Kane being a one-club player, he understands the temptations of a move to Bayern that could provide Kane with better opportunities to win trophies.

“If Kane wants to stay at Tottenham, and he loves Tottenham and has desires to be a one-club man, then there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“However, you can understand why he would want to go to Bayern Munich at his age.”

“He would win the Bundesliga, which would be a trophy and medal to his name.”

“He also has a better chance of winning the Champions League at Bayern Munich.”

“Either way, I would support Harry’s decision.”

Bayern Munich isn’t a step down for Kane

Some pundits within the game have said that Bayern Munich would be a step down for Kane as the Bundesliga isn’t as competitive as the Premier League. However, Barnes disagrees that a move to Bayern would be a step down. He claims Bayern Munich are a bigger club than Tottenham, so it wouldn’t be a backward step if Kane were to join Munich.

“If a player goes to PSG, is that a step down?”

“The Bundesliga is stronger than Ligue 1.”

“When Messi and Neymar went to PSG, was that a step down? No. Because PSG is a huge club. So is Bayern Munich.”

“Bayern Munich are a huge club and are bigger than Tottenham even though the Premier League is bigger than the Bundesliga.”

‘It wouldn’t be a step down, but it would be a less competitive league.”

Maddison will take pressure off Kane and Son

Tottenham have agreed terms with James Maddison, who signed his deal with the London-based club last week. Barnes says that Tottenham have relied upon the creativity and goal-scoring ability of Son and Kane for too long, and the addition of Maddison will allow Kane to focus on staying higher up the pitch.

‘Maddison is a fantastic signing for Tottenham because they’ve relied on Kane and Son far too much for creativity.”

“Their midfield is full of strong, solid, hard-working players but have lacked a creative spark since Eirksen left.”

“They’ve struggled without Son and Kane or when they’ve not been playing well.”

“Maddison will be their main playmaker. Kane has been dropping deep rather than staying in the areas he should be in as a nine.”

“Maddison will allow Kane to operate as more of a nine, and it will be better for Kane.”

Is James Maddison England’s Best Number 10?

Barnes goes on to sing the praises of the former Leicester midfielder Maddison who played in 32 games for Leicester last season. In those 32 games, Maddison scored ten goals and nine assists in a team that seemed doomed to relegation. Playing around better-quality players may help his statistics and aid his hopes of establishing himself in the England set-up ahead of the Euros next summer.

“From an attacking and creative perspective, Maddison is my favourite number ten in the league.”

“As a pure number ten, he is the best that England have.”

“Leicester getting relegated would have helped with the fee because if they had stayed up, Maddison would have cost more.”

“Fees are fees. It’s not a reflection of a player’s quality.”

“Leicester have been relegated, and so £40m will go a long way in their hopes of getting back to the Premier League.”