Sam Allardyce believes Tottenham risk becoming a “mediocre” mid-table Premier League side if Harry Kane leaves at the end of the season.
Kane’s future at the club is in doubt with his contract expiring in 2024.
The north Londoners are obviously very eager for the England captain to extend his stay, with Daniel Levy reportedly asking for £100million in order to scare off interested clubs.
Manchester United are one of those clubs rumoured to be interested as Erik ten Hag looks to sign a new No. 9.
Bayern Munich have also been linked with Kane and would guarantee him the chance to win a trophy for the first time in his career.
Trophies are also likely at Old Trafford, though a move to another Premier League club would offer the 29-year-old the chance to become the league’s all-time leading goalscorer.
After failing to secure a move to Manchester City in 2021, this summer promises to be a crucial one in Kane’s career.
And former Premier League manager Allardyce thinks the Spurs talisman should move on.
He does, however, worry for the club if that does happen.
Allardyce believes they will struggle to replace Kane with someone on the same level and cannot see them finishing any higher than fourth without him.
He said: “If Tottenham lose Harry Kane – what are they going to do? That would be a massive, massive problem – if they lose his goals, they’re going to end up becoming a mediocre Premier League side.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I don’t think there are many replacements as good as Harry who would come to Tottenham.
“Spurs have a great stadium and are a good football club, but they just can’t get over the line when it matters.
“They are where they are and until that changes, it’s unlikely that they’re going to finish any higher than they currently do.”
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Allardyce added that he doesn’t see Kane as someone “ruthless enough” to jump ship in order to win trophies.
He said: “I don’t think Harry is ruthless enough to do it. Those players that leave their clubs are the ones that cause tons of trouble to the football club.
“Someone who is as big of a player as that can make life very difficult – the mood of the dressing room means everything to the success of the team.
“As dogged and determined as Daniel Levy is, Dimitar Berbatov still managed to get away to Manchester United and Gareth Bale went to Real Madrid.
“Sometimes the manager has to go to the owner and say ‘cut your losses, get the best price you can’, otherwise it’s going to destroy the whole ethos of what they’re working for as a club.”
Allardyce also discussed the exit of Antonio Conte, who was relieved of his duties on Sunday following an incredible outburst after his side’s 3-3 draw at Southampton.
The ex-England boss believes the Italian was right in what he said after Spurs threw away a two-goal lead at St Mary’s and does not think he is to blame for their poor performances.
“I thought it was a bit of a miracle that Conte managed to get them into the Champions League last season,” he said.
“I know Antonio and I wasn’t surprised to see the rant after the Southampton game.
“If you look at it in its context, if he had said it a little bit calmer, it may not have had the same effect, because he was spot on about where Tottenham Hotspur are as a club.
“Sometimes when managers lose it like that and have a rave about things, it can often not be as to the point as it was, but Antonio was certainly to the point in what he said.
“[Tottenham’s issues] are not because of the managers – it’s because the players who have been brought in over the years are not quite good enough to get there.
“You can’t have all those managers over the years and say ‘it’s all the manager’s fault’, that’s just not possible!”
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