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      Inside Nagelsmann’s brutal Bayern Munich sacking while he was on a skiing holiday as he emerges as Tottenham target

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      JULIAN NAGELSMANN has officially been sacked as Bayern Munich boss – and details behind his departure are beginning to emerge.Surprising reports last night indicated that the highly-rated German coach was on his way out, a move the club have confirmed this afternoon amid rich speculation over the motives.
      The German coach had been in charge of the club since July 2021Credit: Reuters
      Julian Nagelsmann arrived at the training ground to be sacked by club chiefs todayCredit: Reuters
      This is despite the fact that Bayern sit just a point off top spot in the Bundesliga and are into the Champions League quarter-finals where they will play Man City.
      But this was not enough to save the coach as he reached the end of his second season in charge.
      Sky Sports Germany have reported that club bosses have a number of reasons for pulling the trigger.
      They cite a lack of player development and “negative sporting development” as among the main reasons.
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      Bosses were also reportedly of the mind there was “too much theatre [and a] lack of results”, with some players even “complaining” about their manager.
      Ex-Bayern and Liverpool defender Markus Babbel told Blickch: “I know that Nagelsmann’s relationship with a BILD reporter was a huge topic in the dressing room. 
      “It didn’t go down well at all that he was with her. His girlfriend was therefore a big problem for Bayern.
      “There was a lack of trust because some players just weren’t able to communicate what they were thinking anymore.”
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      The Bayern hierarchy were believed to be taken by “surprise” at Nagelsmann, 35, going off on vacation to Austria during the international break while some of his players remained at the training ground.
      The German was on a skiing holiday in Austria when he was reportedly told about the decision to fire him.
      Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will replace him with Bayern also confirming that a deal was done.
      Tuchel, 49, has been out of a job since being given his marching orders by the new Chelsea owners last September.
      The shock managerial turnaround may have come as a surprise to Nagelsmann with Bayern able to regain control of the title race if they beat Dortmund on April 1 when club football returns.
      The Bavarian club also dispatched PSG in the last-16 and made an awkward assignment look largely straight-forward over two legs.
      Nagelsmann won 60 of his 84 games in charge of Bayern and secured the Bundesliga title last season along with two German Super Cups.
      His departure could potentially have a big knock-on effect for one Premier League club.
      The Telegraph report that Spurs are set to open talks with Nagelsmann after today’s decision.
      They claim the sacked Bayern manager has an “affinity” for Spurs and even used to own one of the club’s replica shirts.
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      Antonio Conte is believed to be at risk of the sack during this international break and thoughts have already turned to who could replace him.
      Nagelsmann was among the managers Spurs considered after they sacked Jose Mourinho two years ago.
      Ex-Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel will be the next boss in the Allianz Arena hot seatCredit: AFP More

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      Eight ex-Liverpool players who should never have left, including Philippe Coutinho, Fernando Torres and Michael Owen

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      PHILIPPE COUTINHO is redeeming himself at Aston Villa after returning to the Premier League last year.The Brazilian, now 30, flopped at Barcelona after a staggering £142million from Liverpool, but playing on our shores has reignited some of the old spark.
      Coutinho and Can are just two players to regret quitting Liverpool
      But Coutinho is by no means the first former Liverpool player to see his career stall after quitting the Kop, with Sadio Mane the latest who appears to not be enjoying his time away.
      Take a look at EIGHT stars who’ve all regretted a move away from Merseyside…
      SADIO MANE
      Bayern Munich (June 2022)
      FOR many years, Sadio Mane was a king at Anfield. The winger may have not have received as many plaudits as teammate Mohamed Salah, but he was equally dangerous and devastating going forward.
      The Senegalese legend made a surprise move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 after six dazzling years at Anfield.
      But his first season has not quite got going and reports in Sport1 from Germany have suggested that the club’s hierarchy are growing concerned by his performances.
      The 30-year-old has not scored since October but has missed three months of the season with injury.
      EMRE CAN
      Juventus (July 2018)
      AFTER his drawn-out Anfield exit, Can – now at Borussia Dortmund – played a big role in Juventus’ success in 2018-19, playing 29 times in Serie A, as well as making six Champions League appearances.
      However, after another big summer of signing at Juve, Can was left staring into the wilderness.
      Huge, free arrivals in the form of Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot quickly shifted Can down the pecking order. He departed for Germany and the midfielder, now 29, is now playing his football at Borussia Dortmund.
      The Reds would go on to win their first-ever Premier League crown not long after he left. Can could have been a part of history.
      PHILIPPE COUTINHO
      Barcelona (January 2018)
      Coutinho has been given a second chance to prove himself at BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      AFTER leaving Inter Milan in January 2013 for just £8m, Coutinho quickly became one of Liverpool’s best players.
      As the years rolled on and the “Little Magician” continued to put in a series of glittering performances, the Brazilian then became one of the best on the planet.
      Barcelona came knocking and as is often the way, the South American’s head was turned.
      Coutinho quit the club in January 2018, much to the disgust of the Liverpool faithful.
      Ever since, the Brazilian playmaker has quickly faded into mediocrity. However, his reunion with Steven Gerrard at Villa Park appeared to briefly get a tune out of him again.
      And since Gerrard’s sacking, he has still occasionally manages to show glimpses of his old self under Unai Emery.
      JORDON IBE
      Bournemouth (July 2016)
      Jordon Ibe left Liverpool just as his stock was rapidly risingCredit: Getty
      THE English winger may not be in the same league as Coutinho or Can – but you had better believe he could have been.
      After joining the Reds from Wycombe, the Londoner worked his way through the youth ranks before bursting into the first-team in the 2014-15 season.
      After spells on loan at Birmingham and Derby, Ibe quickly showed his promise – before taking on a key role in 2015-16.
      Ibe made 27 appearances that season in the Premier League alone – and 41 in all competitions – including some Man of the Match displays, including the Merseyside derby against Everton.
      But as he believed he was slipped down the pecking order, Ibe left Anfield just one year into his new five-year deal to join Bournemouth.
      At the time, the winger was being tipped for a call-up to the England set-up – but now he is playing in the second tier of the Turkish league for Adanaspor.FERNANDO TORRES
      Chelsea (January 2011)
      Fernando Torres was left to regret leaving Liverpool for Chelsea in 2011Credit: Reuters
      NOW this one always shows up on lists of “worst transfers ever”…
      Torres infamously left Liverpool in the January window of the 2010-11 season for a whopping £50m fee.
      The Spanish legend had shown signs of slowing down at the Reds after a series of frustrating injuries.
      But after joining Chelsea, Torres looked a shadow of his former self, scoring just 20 times in 110 Premier League games, compared to 65 goals in 102 Liverpool matches.
      The 110-cap international bounced around the world for the rest of his career, having spells at AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Sagan Tosu in Japan, before hanging up his boots.
      MICHAEL OWEN
      Real Madrid (August 2004)
      Michael Owen spent just one season at Real Madrid after leaving LiverpoolCredit: AP:Associated Press
      LIVERPOOL born and raised, Owen spent 13 years at Liverpool in all, including his five seasons in the youth team.
      The striker scored 118 Premier League goals in just 216 games, quickly establishing himself as a legend for club and country.
      The 40-goal Three Lions forward believed he could do better, as Liverpool continued their PL title drought.
      He moved to Real Madrid in a shock move in the summer of 2004 for a fee of just £8m.
      Owen scored 13 times in his sole season at the Bernabeu before he made the “biggest mistake of his career” as he called it, in joining Newcastle in 2005.

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      NICK BARMBY
      Leeds (August 2002)
      Nick Barmby struggled to maintain his best form when joining LeedsCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      OFTEN a forgotten man amongst Liverpool fans, Barmby enjoyed plenty of success at Anfield.
      The 23-cap England star was part of the squad that won a hoard of trophies including the FA Cup and Uefa Cup around the turn of the new millennium.
      But he left after just two seasons, in 2002, to join Leeds United – in what should have been then prime years of his career.
      Both the player and club quickly suffered a downturn in form, with the Elland Road giants relegated and Barmby making just 25 appearances in two years.
      After a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Barmby played the final eight years of his career at his home-town team, Hull.
      ROBBIE FOWLER
      Leeds (November 2001)
      Robbie Fowler fell out with Liverpool management and quit in 2001Credit: PA:Press Association
      IN defence of “God”, as he was known by Liverpool fans, Fowler had spent 17 years at Anfield – including nine years with the youth teams.
      Fowler quickly became a club legend, scoring 120 Premier League goals in just 236 outings.
      But after reports of a rift with boss Gerard Houllier and his assistant Phil Thompson in 2001, Fowler left just a handful of games into the 2001-02 season.
      Having been a true icon in Liverpool, Fowler failed to settle anywhere else after joining Leeds.
      Fowler spent two years in Leeds, leaving the season before they were relegated to join Manchester City.
      He returned to Liverpool three years later for a cameo spell at the club, in which he scored eight times.
      The 26-cap England star wound-down his career with spells at Cardiff, Blackburn, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory and Muangthong United before he returned in 2012. More

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      How Bayern Munich could line up under Thomas Tuchel with German raiding Chelsea for three stars including Mason Mount

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is set to be named as Bayern Munich’s new boss following the reported sacking of Julian Nagelsmann. The ex-Chelsea boss will be inheriting one of Europe’s strongest squads, but he will be expected to put his own twist on things come the summer.
      Thomas Tuchel is set to be named as Bayern Munich’s new bossCredit: Getty
      Harry Kane and Mason Mount have been heavily linked with exit’s from their respective clubs
      With this in mind, SunSport have taken a look at how Tuchel may line up his Bayern Munich outfit.
      The German had particular favourites at Chelsea, with many of them now out of favour.
      Mason Mount is one such star and could consequently be signed by Tuchel for his Bayern midfield.
      With Thomas Muller now 33 years old – not that he is showing signs of slowing down – a long-term replacement in attacking midfield could be needed.
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      Harry Kane is also a long-term target for Bayern, and could also be signed alongside the Englishman.
      Joao Cancelo could also be brought in on a permanent deal to complete a hat-trick of Prem signings.
      Another look at a Bayern team under Tuchel could see a huge raid on ex-club Chelsea.
      Winger Christian Pulisic has been linked heavily with an exit, and has previously played in the Bundesliga.
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      Elsewhere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to leave the club after falling out of favour.
      He has already been signed twice by Tuchel, so Bayern could make it a hat-trick.
      The pair could be brought in alongside Mount.
      An alternative look could see Mount brought in once again, with Neymar brought in on the wing with him linked with the exit door at Paris Saint-Germain.
      Neymar could be brought in as part of Tuchel’s plan More

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      Man Utd transfer target Randal Kolo Muani drops biggest hint yet over £105m summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt

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      MANCHESTER UNITED transfer target Randal Kolo Muani has dropped the biggest hint yet he could move to the club. The French forward has been on United’s radar ahead of a possible summer move.
      Randal Kolo Muani has dropped a big hint he may leave Eintracht Frankfurt in the summerCredit: Getty
      Kolo Muani is enjoying a strong season in the Bundesliga
      The transfer could see the Red Devils fork out £105million to prise him away from Oliver Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt.
      And the 24-year-old forward has given the biggest hint yet that he may move in the summer.
      Speaking to French publication L’Equipe, he said: “We talk about it a lot already, but I try to be focused on my club.
      “We continue our performances and we will see this summer. Afterwards, I always dreamed of playing in big clubs.”
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      Kolo Muani has scored 16 goals and added 12 assists for Frankfurt this season, which has followed a 16-goal and assist league season with Nantes in Ligue 1.
      This has also seen him court interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
      On his strong form, Muani said: “I thought I was going to need some time to adapt, maybe a year. But everything exploded. Either way, I’m ready for any challenge.
      “I ask the club to get me my statistics on my matches each time. I share this with my physical trainer to know what to improve.
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      “I do a lot of goals and assists, but it’s not at the level where I should be. I still miss quite a bit. This is only my third (full) season as a pro.”
      His form saw him called up by France for the World Cup in Qatar, a few short months after he made his international debut.
      He made a strong impression in appearances off the bench in the semi-final and final.
      The Frenchman netted a killing blow in the semi-final victory over Morocco, while he picked up an assist in the final against Argentina.
      However, he was denied the chance to win the World Cup when Emiliano Martinez saved his shot in extra time which later saw him subjected to vile racist abuse. More

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      ‘The player is ours!’ – Jose Enrique leaks Liverpool’s first summer transfer with Bayern star on brink of shock move

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      LIVERPOOL have already completed their first signing of the summer… according to their former player Jose Enrique.The Reds are eager to bolster their midfield after enduring a difficult campaign this time around.
      Jose Enrique played 99 times for Liverpool between 2011 and 2016Credit: Getty
      Thiago Alcantara and Arthur Melo have missed plenty of time with injuries, while Stefan Bajcetic has now been ruled out for the season.
      Liverpool have been linked with a stunning swoop for England star Jude Bellingham.
      But according to Enrique, they’ve already sealed a move for another midfield wonderkid.
      Appearing on a live stream, the Spaniard was asked about Bayern Munich youngster Ryan Gravenberch.
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      He said: “This player is ours, amigo… He said ‘yeah’.”
      Enrique, 37, then elaborated: “It’s the same agent as me, team Raiola.
      “We had a meeting not long ago in London, this is our player.”
      His co-host then interrupted him, warning: “Be careful, you’re on live!”
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      Gravenberch burst on to the scene with Ajax before making the switch to Bayern last summer for a fee rising to around £20million.
      He has struggled to make an impression at Allianz Arena, however, starting just ONE Bundesliga match this season.
      Despite his lack of action, Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann backed Gravenberch to become one of the world’s best midfielders.
      He told Sky Germany in October: “I had a good conversation with Ryan this week.
      I’ve told him that he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the world one dayJulian Nagelsmann
      “I’ve told him again clearly what the difference is from his role last year, when he always played from the start.
      “It’s not quite so easy for a young player to come in at 20 and only come on for 20 minutes. It’s just a whole different approach.
      “He is of course sad that he doesn’t play much, but not frustrated or angry at all. He’s a great guy, who will continue his development.
      “I’ve told him that he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the world one day, and I’m committed to that.
      “He just has to adjust a few things, and he will do that.”
      Ryan Gravenberch has started one Bundesliga match since joining Bayern MunichCredit: Getty More

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      Yann Sommer lives up to incredible promise as he trucks in a near TONNE of Swiss chocolate.. before giving it to charity

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      YANN SOMMER went from dominating his box to donating his chocs – all 700 KILOS of them!The Bayern Munich keeper trucked in the top-notch nibbles from his home country Switzerland after making a bemusing promise to team-mate Matthijs de Ligt – but then gave them to a foodbank instead.
      Yann Sommer wanted to thank goal-line hero Matthijs de Ligt with a massive haul of chocolates but ultimately gave them to a Munich charityCredit: Getty
      Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry were the goalscoring foxes in the box for Bayern but it’s the chocs in these boxes that will help a foodbank
      Sommer vowed to reward the defender for a goal-line clearance when Bayern KO’d PSG in the Champions League last week.
      In the end, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry both grabbed an After Eight on the night – second-half goals to clinch a 2-0 win.
      That double bounty put Bayern into the last 16 by 3-0 on aggregate.
      But Sommer was so impressed by De Ligt’s intervention that he vowed to deliver him a huge haul of chocolate bars from Swiss manufacturer Kägi. 
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      The stopper, however, eventually opted to send the sweets to a charity in Munich called Münchner Tafel.
      And apart from being a charitable idea, De Ligt seems to think it was wise for football reasons too.
      Just before the 0.7 TONNE of bars was redirected, the Holland star told Sport1: “We’re in good form now so it’s better not to eat too much chocolate.
      “This week was very important — with the win against Paris (and against Augsburg). 
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      “We’re now in the Champions League quarter-final, in the DFB-Pokal and top of the Bundesliga, so it was important.”
      And chasing that confection of honours is surely a sweet consolation for sticking to a strict eating regime. More

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      Joao Cancelo’s Bayern Munich spell goes from bad to worse with on-loan Man City star set to miss biggest game of season

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      AS JOAO CANCELO is discovering, sometimes the grass is not always greener outside of the Premier League.What should have been a career-changing loan spell with Bayern Munich has turned into a period of frustration for the Portugal wing-back.
      Joao Cancelo has been hooked in each of his only four starts for BayernCredit: Getty
      Cancelo, 28, is set to miss the biggest  game of the season so far: Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
      Bayern chief Julian Nagelsmann will likely choose a more defensive approach, with academy graduate Josip Stanisic set to replace the suspended Benjamin Pavard.
      Amid reports of training-ground rows with boss Pep Guardiola, Cancelo pushed to leave Manchester City in January.
      And despite having no viable back-up, the club agreed.
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      But since arriving in the Bundesliga, Cancelo has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Bayern. The four times he has started he has been hooked.
      And in recent weeks, Nagelsmann has gone with a back three and Cancelo has been stuck on the bench.
      Images of him sulking in training on Monday will not have helped.
      It certainly will not persuade Bayern his £61.5million buy-out option is worth exploring.
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      Nagelsmann yesterday praised “reliable” and “speedy” Stanisic, expecting the Croat, 22, to play despite a slight hamstring concern.
      Striker Thomas Muller said: “Stani’s qualities are there to see. He’s a really tough fighter, he’s technically gifted.”
      Meanwhile, Muller says Bayern have a plan to stop Kylian Mbappe as they protect a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg.
      The German, 33, said: “If it goes according to our plan, he’s not going to have too much fun.” More

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      Harry Kane would be sorely tempted by Man Utd or Bayern summer transfer after another Tottenham trophy failure

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      IT is 32 years since Tottenham last reached the FA Cup final.That triumph, blighted by Paul Gascoigne’s self-inflicted knee injury, arrived two years before Harry Kane was born.
      Harry Kane faces another trophyless season if Spurs go out of the Champions League next weekCredit: Rex
      At Bramall Lane on Wednesday, Kane’s last chance to lift the Cup for his boyhood club might well have passed with the England captain left on the bench until midway through the second half.
      Kane turns 30 this summer, is out of contract next year and has no major trophies to go alongside a sackful of personal accolades.
      And this workaholic football obsessive would have wanted to face Sheffield United in that fifth-round tie.
      He wants to play in every game and values domestic cups more than most of those who have managed him at Spurs.
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      For those of us who grew up on Chas & Dave Cup final singles, it is extraordinary to comprehend that Spurs have failed to reach that showpiece in more than three decades. 
      Their recent record in the competition is shocking. Defeat by the Blades was their fourth consecutive last-16 exit, following a similar 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough last year, a ridiculous 5-4 defeat at Everton and a shootout loss against the Premier League’s worst team, Norwich, on the night when Eric Dier waded into the stands to confront fans.
      Before that came a fourth-round defeat at Crystal Palace, after which boss Mauricio Pochettino — who had made seven changes — admitted domestic knockout competitions were less important than Champions League qualification.
      That is the view of chairman Daniel Levy, too.
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      But it runs against the Danny Blanchflower ‘glory game’ ethos and it shows a disconnect between ownership, management and the majority of Tottenham’s fanbase.
      Spurs haven’t been the mightiest team in the land since they last won the league — ‘in black and white’, as rivals like to point out — in 1961. But for the following 30 years they enjoyed a rich heritage as a Cup team.
      That is now all ancient history, Ossie’s Dream a distant memory.
      Before their dismal recent run, Spurs lost their last seven FA Cup semi-finals.
      But the Spursiness of Wednesday’s defeat was off the scale.Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom had made wholesale changes but his promotion-chasing Championship side still had enough to defeat a complacent Tottenham.
      Antonio Conte has yet to deliver silverware to TottenhamCredit: Reuters
      Antonio Conte, soon to return after gallbladder surgery, miscalculated by dropping his club’s  all-time record goalscorer as well as his best defender, Cristian Romero, and Dejan Kulusevski.
      Losing in Sheffield was a serious blow, especially as Spurs would have been handed a home draw against Blackburn had they made it to the quarter-finals.
      A recent revival, which included victories over Manchester City and Chelsea, has boosted hopes of a top-four finish — but with Liverpool on the rise and Newcastle still dangerous, that is far from guaranteed.
      Next week’s Champions League return leg against AC Milan, with Spurs trailing 1-0, has taken on added significance but the  FA Cup represented Tottenham’s best hope of silverware.
      Kane will not be happy about Conte’s latest sickbed selection.
      Sure, Iliman Ndiaye’s winner arrived after Kane’s introduction and, yes, Spurs lost at Boro last season with their talisman in the starting line-up.
      But Tottenham’s chances would have improved had Kane started. His replacement, Richarlison, is yet to score for Spurs in domestic competition.
      It was a desperate night for Spurs in SheffieldCredit: Getty
      Kane has refused to rule out a summer move and with Spurs almost certain to rack up a 14th consecutive trophyless season, he will be sorely tempted if Manchester United and Bayern Munich make their expected summer moves for him.
      Might winning the FA Cup have made the difference in persuading Kane to stay? Quite possibly, yes. He is an old-fashioned glory man.
      Kane tried to leave 18 months ago and the smart money is on him trying again, knowing it will be Tottenham’s last chance to cash in on him this coming summer.
      The England skipper has carried Spurs for years. They have punched above their weight since he arrived in the first team, largely because of his goals, assists and all-round presence.
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      With Newcastle’s rise, Spurs are now the seventh richest club in the Premier League. By rights they should be a Europa Conference League side.
      Without Kane, they are likely to sink into that sort of territory. And defeat at Bramall Lane might not have been merely a one-off humiliation — it may spell the beginning of the end of the Kane era. More