Tottenham to appoint Ange Postecoglou this week with Harry Kane’s future in flux

Tottenham Hotspur are set to finalise the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new manager this week — but the Australian faces the prospect of preparing for next season without Harry Kane.

Spurs are due to hold talks with Postecoglou after being granted permission by Celtic after he sealed a domestic Treble with victory in the Scottish Cup final on Sunday. It is reported he will sign a two-year deal, with the option of an extra year.

The north London club are keen to hire a new manager soon to begin planning for pre-season and how they can rebuild the squad following a hugely disappointing campaign.

Following the departure of Antonio Conte in March, Spurs missed out on key targets including Feynoord’s Arne Slot, who opted to sign a new contract at the Dutch side after leading them to an unexpected Eredivisie championship.

Former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was head coach for five years during which they reached the Champions League final and contested a Premier League title, was also appointed by rivals Chelsea while Spurs searched for Conte’s replacement.

When confirmed, Postecoglou will have his work cut out making significant improvements to a club that finished eighth last season, behind Brighton and Aston Villa. Hugo Lloris is leaving and there is the very real possibility that England captain Kane, whose goals and Golden Boots have sustained them for so many years, will follow.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy could well still resist approaches and insist the player sees out his contract, accepting Kane will leave for free next summer. But a transfer to Real Madrid may see the stars around Kane align for the first time: a club willing to pay the sort of fee Levy demands, Spurs not selling to a domestic rival, Kane getting to join a mega club to spend the remainder of his career filling a bare trophy cabinet.

Levy, considered one of football’s toughest negotiators, has considered Real Madrid an outlet for previous players of Kane’s calibre who wished to leave, selling them Luka Modric and Gareth Bale to avoid significantly strengthening Premier League rivals.

With Levy unlikely to sanction a move to Manchester United, a direct rival for Champions League qualification, the prospect of Kane being allowed to leave was slim but Real Madrid’s sudden necessity for a world-leading striker has changed the situation.

Madrid thought they had 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema for another 12 months but the French striker decided on a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Kane will turn 30 in July yet, with the level of fitness and devotion to diet and nutrition of modern players, footballers are increasingly playing at high levels well into their 30s so a fee towards £100m could be considered. Benzema is 35 and had some of his highest-scoring season in Madrid following his 30th birthday.

If he goes it will be a huge job to replace Kane and World Cup winner Lloris. Without the prospect of any kind of European football, Levy and Postecoglou will have to recruit carefully and smartly to attract the right kind of players.