Harry Kane set to fit right in at champions Bayern Munich
The arrival of Harry Kane at Bayern Munich provides the record champions with their missing attacking link while delivering Thomas Tuchel's side with the firepower they need as they look to extend their Bundesliga dominance.
Having pulled off the transfer coup of the summer, the Bavarian giants can now begin working on embedding England's all-time record goalscorer into their impressive setup.
Following a career spent largely in the white of his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur - where he became the London side's all-time leading marksman and leaves with a total of 280 goals to his name - the 30-year old is set to don the red of Bayern and begin what promised to be a fascinating new challenge in Germany.
With Bundesliga goals almost a given, it is where Kane will fit in and what he can do for a talented new cast around him that fascinates just as much as the predictions surrounding his potential tally on the goalscoring front. For Harry Kane is more than just a superb striker; he is a hyper-intelligent footballing technician who raises the prospects of those who perform next to him.
First and foremost, Kane is an awesome goal machine. He netted almost 43 per cent of Spurs' Premier League goals last season. Of his 30 top-flight goals in 2022/23, he scored 12 with his right foot, two with his left, 11 headers - a Premier League record in a single campaign - and five penalties. On 11 occasions, his goals provided match winners.
He may have been pipped to the Premier League Golden Boot by ex-Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland last season, but Kane won that particular prize on three previous occasions. With 213 Premier League goals overall, the Walthamstow native trails only Alan Shearer (260) on the competition's all-time scoring charts.
The promise in terms of what Kane can deliver in terms of goals leading the line for Bayern, is therefore enormous. Although somewhat different in terms of their style of play, Kane could well bring a similar return on the season-by season numbers front to what Robert Lewaandowski did during his record-breaking time at Bayern.
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Lest we forget, the Polish striker - the Bundesliga's all-time non-German goalscorer - hit at least 30 Bundesliga goals in five distinct seasons during his time in Bavaria. For a Bayern side that hit the fewest goals of their past four title wins last term, a return to Lewandowski-era scoring would be most welcome.
What will be equally as welcome among his new attacking teammates, is Kane's ability to drop deep - sometimes very deep - in order to win possession and quickly release the pace of wide runners. Within a Bayern formation set up to attack at speed in all areas of the final third, this could prove devastating.
Pulling opposition defenders with him into deeper territory, the spaces open to a flying Kingsley Coman, say, or a darting Leroy Sane or Serge Gnabry - Bayern's top scorer with 14 Bundesliga goals last term - could prove irresistible. Kane's ability to ping a first-time precision pass ranks high among his numerous in-game abilities. He averaged 22 passes per Premier League game last season with a completion rate of 72 per cent.
Meanwhile, the forward's penchant for holding up the ball with his back to goal will aid the likes of one of the Bundesliga's most exciting young attackers, Jamal Musiala. The Germany international - who memorably scored Bayern's title-winning goal last May - needs no second invitation to snap-up a pass and showcase his superb close control and accurate finishing after leaving a defender or three for dead.
"I’d call Harry a nine and half," Kane's former striking coach at Tottenham, Les Ferdinand, explained when asked whether the multi-talented striker was best described as a No.9 or a 10.
"He can hold up the ball, back to goal as well as any; he’s very dynamic in his movement [and] wants to be heading towards goal every time he gets the ball," former England international Ferdinand continued. "But if he needs to drop back and thicken up the midfield, play as a No. 10, he has football intelligence to pick up right positions."
Jose Mourinho - Kane's one-time coach at Spurs - also weighed in on the striker's formidable versatility which is set to become a big Bayern asset. "You cannot say only he can score goals," the Portuguese tactician said. "He drops so much and gets in between the lines and is such a technical player that he can assist and can link the play. What I think is needed is what we tried at Tottenham: in the end, he would naturally drop and leave his area, come deeper and get the ball. Great vision, passing and change of direction and explore the opposite full-back."
Playing such a leading role in so many facets of play might be considered a burden to some, but not to Kane. "I'm confident in my ability; I have a lot of self belief," the striker once said. "I think I'll be capable of maintaining my form, if not improving, year in year out. I want to be the best that I can be."
For some, Kane already is the best around. "What I’ve observed is a player still super-confident, still ready to perform, hungry to score goals. He is a brilliant professional," England coach Gareth Southgate said of the Three-Lions' all-time record goalscorer.
"It is true all players try to score, to win and of course to win titles, that is the aim of everyone, but for me so far Harry Kane is showing he is one of the best strikers in the world," current Chelsea and former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino previously said. Bayern players and fans alike are rubbing their hands at the prospect of welcoming a global footballing icon into their ranks ahead of what could well be a blockbusting campaign.
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