With Tottenham Hotspur now out of chances to win a trophy yet again this season, pundits and football fans are once again discussing what this could mean for the future of Harry Kane.
The Spurs and England star has been one of the best players in Europe, let alone the Premier League for some time now and while he has beyond shined at his boyhood club, he is still yet to win a trophy in his competitive career and the worry is that he is now running out of time to do so.
Following his team’s exit from the Champions League earlier this week, the question of ‘what’s next for Harry Kane?’ is once again being asked and although he could very well stay at Spurs and go down as a one-club man, recording goalscorer and legend, he wants to win trophies.
That being said, it seems as though many feel he now has only one destination left to turn to if he did choose to depart and the consensus seems to be, almost resoundingly, that it’s Manchester United.
Speaking after the loss to AC Milan on Wednesday night, CBS Sports’ Kate Abdo asked the punditry panel whether they think Kane will finally leave this summer and, as you can see, the answer was not only quick but definitive.
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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said that is a “now or never” moment for Kane, insisting that he believes if the England captain “doesn’t leave this summer, he will then stay at Tottenham for the rest of his career”.
While he conceded he does still stand a chance of a domestic cup at Spurs, he believes that he’s far too good to settle for that and went on to say that he thinks “the only place he can go realistically is Manchester United” simply because of the strikers already in place at his team and Manchester City.
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Moreover, Carra and his fellow panellists also seemed to agree that any potential move has to be this summer, with Kane now 29 and soon leaving the ‘prime years’ and moving towards the latter stages of his career. United legend Rio Ferdinand and former Spurs striker Peter Crouch seemed to agree.
Ferdinand said that given Spurs don’t look to be anywhere near “touching distance” of winning anything, Kane should be “looking to pastures new” and after everything that he’s achieved at the club, recently breaking legend Jimmy Greaves’ goal record, fans couldn’t begrudge him leaving.
Rio also noted that part of the frustration for supporters is that after multiple speculative transfer windows, Kane hasn’t necessarily gone out of his way to make it crystal clear that he will be staying or going and could make it clear that he is “Mr. Spurs” or, indeed, that the time has come to go.
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As Crouch sees it, like Carragher, although he doesn’t want to see Kane join United for obvious reasons, it seems as though it may be the best fit for him. “I personally see him at United”, said Crouch, even comparing him to Teddy Sheringham and already envisioning the impact he could have there.
Gary Neville is another figure who has long made it clear that Kane needs to move on if he is to stand a chance of winning silverware, reiterating last week even before the Milan game that “the time is right” for him to leave, especially given the fact that “United are desperate for a centre-forward.”
Another thing all the ex-players involved in the discussions above also seemed to agree on is that if he finally decides to leave, wherever he goes he will want to stay in the Premier League so he can go on to break Alan Shearer‘s all-time record (260), which he is currently 60 goals short of.
Keeping that and the fact that City have Haaland, Liverpool have brought in multiple new forwards and he simply cannot join current league leaders and fierce rivals in Arsenal, it really does feel like there’s only one other option left: United.
Having picked up their first trophy in six years with the EFL Cup win and still in two other competitions, not to mention back up near the top of the league table and in need of an elite, out-and-out striker to properly challenge for titles, this might be both the perfect time and the only time for him to join United.
Featured Image — Harry Kane (via Instagram)/BT Sport (via Twitter)
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Manchester’s 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness returns with its biggest venue host yet for 2024
Danny Jones
November is well underway which means that not only have the likes of the annual Christmas Markets begun but Manchester is once again ramping up for the latest edition of The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.
Although the holiday season is a jolly one for many, we’re always reminded that for lots of those less fortunate, the colder months signal an even more difficult time for lots of people all over Greater Manchester, with the region still suffering with the third highest rate of homelessness in the UK.
That being said, each year volunteers from founding organisation, Run Wild MCR (the University of Manchester’s long-standing running society), team up with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to help put in the hard yards on their behalf and raise as much money as possible.
Marking the sixth year of the heartwarming and vital fundraising event, the 2024 edition of The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness is hoping to be the most impactful yet, landing even more support from local clubs and businesses than ever, as well as their biggest host venue yet.
For anyone still unaware of the event, the annual 24-hour relay run sees thousands of runners turn up from all over the 10 boroughs to participate in 5km laps around the city centre to witness the effects of homelessness first-hand.
Those lacing up their trainers – be they from local clubs like Manchester Road Runners, charitable organisation, Northern business or just a Manc who fancies doing their bit for a good cause – can do as little or as few laps as they like, as well as contribute to the fundraising with donations on the night.
Now with national vehicle marketplace AutoTrader named as the principal sponsor for this year’s run and the Together Co. social charity pledging to match public donations up to £20,000, The Manchester 24 Hour Homeless Run is hoping to achieve its biggest goal to date.
There have already been some serious records broken in past iterations, with multiple runners even going for upwards of 100k in total distance covered and staying overnight in sleeping bags to get their laps done over the 24 hours.
Having made upwards of £30,000 since it started, amassing more than £25,000 during its fifth anniversary in 2023, and raising over £1,400 with its first spin-off event in Birmingham earlier this month, this is set to be a hugely impactful year for the team and Manchester’s ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme.
The growth of the event speaks for itself, with Mayor Andy Burnham now a regular attendee on behalf of his namesake charity, an increase in clubs, influencers and national coverage, not to mention the event landing Freight Island as the 2024 host venue.
You can see a quick run-through of the city centre route here:
Having sent a huge message to the previous government regarding comments about the homeless community and directly contributing to approximately 842 rough sleepers being given a bed in Manchester during last year’s run, they’ve done incredible work in just a few short years.
With the profile of the ever-important event bigger than ever, as it looks to continue expanding into different cities – especially following the success of its debut Brummy run – we’re expecting big things and even more wholesome vibes as the crowds gather at the now well-and-truly festive Freight Island.
Members of The Manc will also be taking part and putting in as many miles as we can, so come and say hello if you can or, even better, come join the countless other volunteers going for a jog from 12pm on Wednesday, 13 November until noon the next day.
More importantly, please give even a little bit to this crucial cause HERE if you can; the charity livestream will also be active on our Facebook page throughout the duration and QR codes for direct donations will be available at Freight Island on the night.
You can see a full list of the organisations taking part down below. This really is a time when Manchester shows its best face and we can all be very proud that we’re putting in the graft to combat a global crisis.
BBC confirm Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season
Danny Jones
Following reports late on Monday evening, the BBC has now officially revealed Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League campaign.
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day (MotD) since 1999, is set to leave the long-standing British TV and sporting institution after 25 seasons but will still remain associated with the BBC on various other projects moving forward.
Confirming the news on Tuesday, 12 November, the network said that while his MotD tenure will conclude come May 2025, “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup”.
The former footballer will also continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and his The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds alongside fellow co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match of the Day at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/BkHUScf9TK
Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player was famously suspended from the show back in March 2023 after comments made about the previous Conservative government’s “dangerous” rhetoric.
Shearer and Ian Wright (‘Wrighty’ having also announced he will be leaving the show at the end of the season) both walked out in solidarity with their close friend and colleague before being reinstated after issuing an official apology.
Putting the brief separation aside, Lineker has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the BBC for more than two and a half decades and when the title race does conclude at the end of next spring, he will have been one of the most recognisable faces in British football for 26 years.
Many have rightly pointed out that he served as the Des Lynam – the former MoTDhost for 11 years – for multiple generations of young football fans.
Timing makes sense as it’s more common for fans get their coverage elsewhere and quicker nowadays. Big shoes to fill regardless however but Lynham had a huge legacy too when Gary replaced him.
This past August marked Match of the Day‘s 60th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running programmes in British TV history, and to say that the household name and ever-entwined Walkers ambassador has made up nearly half of that is no mean feat.
Lineker has yet to issue a personal response via any channels by the official BBC statement, but viewers can expect to address the situation on the likes of The Rest is Football soon enough.
Thanks for the memories, Gary – especially for honouring your promise and hosting in those comically big white undies.