Harry Kane is the biggest loser as Tottenham reject Bayern Munich transfer bid
Harry Kane could be forced to stay at Tottenham after Bayern Munich transfer bid rejected
PA
Tottenham have decided to stand firm and reject Bayern Munich's latest transfer bid for Harry Kane in yet another development in this ongoing saga.
Advantage Spurs, so it would seem. For Bayern, they may now be forced to go back to the drawing board.
But while Tottenham will now be confident of keeping Kane, and Bayern losing hope, the biggest loser in this situation is the player himself.
The 30-year-old deserves to leave. He has done more than enough for a club that, simply put, he's outgrown.
Harry Kane has done more than enough for Tottenham and deserves to leave on a high
PA
A few years ago, Kane staying at Tottenham was sensible. They were impressive under Mauricio Pochettino, a consistent force in the Premier League and a team that also made the Champions League final in 2019.
Ever since the sacking of the Argentine mere months later, however, Spurs have regressed to become a shadow of that entertaining, swashbuckling side.
First they gambled on a wounded Jose Mourinho who, while he guided the club to a EFL Cup final, was never the right man for the job.
Then Tottenham decided to hire serial winner Antonio Conte, only for the Italian to operate with one hand tied behind his back before leaving earlier this year having thrown his toys out the pram.
No matter the manager Kane has stepped up and delivered the goods. That's a credit to him as a player because, as Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain proves, footballers don't always act that way.
Last season, Tottenham were awful. First under Conte, then under Cristian Stellini and then as they finished the campaign under Ryan Mason.
Yet Kane still delivered, scoring 32 goals across all competitions to help keep his side out of the bottom half of the table.
With 280 goals from 435 games, Kane is one of the best strikers England have ever produced.
But with no trophies to his name, his loyalty hasn't been rewarded. In light of Daniel Levy rejecting Bayern's bid, it doesn't look like it will be either.
Kane will now likely spend another year trying to drag Tottenham into Europe, instead of towards the biggest and best titles in the land.
Certainly, that's not what he deserves.
Kane will be 31 next summer and amid his reported desire to earn over £500,000-a-week in wages, that dream is likely to die.
It is unlikely any top European sides will give him that in 12 months' time, even if there would be no transfer fee involved. Giving eyewatering salaries to players arguably past their peak is something that rarely happens in the whacky, weird world of sport.
While Tottenham have improved under Ange Postecoglou in pre-season, they're not going to be competing for the biggest prizes.
Not when the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal are so far ahead.
Even teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea look like they'll be better, which gives Tottenham a mountain to climb.
Kane is, contrary to what trolls online say, someone determined to be a winner. He has shown throughout his career that he'll do whatever it takes, and summon whatever magic he possesses, to secure silverware.
Yet it just hasn't happened.
At Bayern, Kane would be practically guaranteed a Bundesliga title every year. Certainly, Champions League football would be virtually assured right from minute one.
Instead, he'll now likely be forced to stay at Tottenham before leaving for nothing in 12 months' time. Kane loses, Spurs lose and Bayern lose. There are no winners there.
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Even if that does happen, and he goes for free, there's no guarantee Europe's top clubs will come in for him.
United have spent big on Rasmus Hojlund, while Manchester City already have Erling Haaland at the tip of their attack.
Bayern will sign a top forward this summer if they miss out on Kane, while Real Madrid's need for the striker will lessen if they manage to snare Mbappe.
Paris Saint-Germain will lose their appeal if Mbappe joins Lionel Messi out the door, while Barcelona don't have the funds to meet Kane's wage demands.
If the player wants to go, now is the right time. Another year, another delay, and his options may be even thinner than they are right now.