In a new series of articles, FantasySports.co.uk will analyse the likely formation and performance impact that players would have on some of the Premier League’s greatest clubs. Today, we ask the question: ‘Is England World Cup hero Harry Kane too big for Tottenham?’
Our analysis series is to assist Fantasy Premier League managers in understanding the impact Kane could have next season in the English top-flight.
Is England World Cup hero Harry Kane too big for Tottenham?
Harry Kane’s hat-trick against Panama in England’s second match of the World Cup has once again reminded Premier League fans of the quality he possesses. Tottenham supporters and Fantasy Premier League managers have long known just how good Kane truly is. But with his World Cup heroics and possible golden boot at the tournament, there are questions over just how good Spurs would be without the striker.
The striker tallied 41 goals in all competitions during the club season. It was another tremendous year for Kane and the fourth straight in which he had tallied 28 or more strikes. Since establishing himself as Tottenham’s No. 9, Kane has gone from strength to strength.
The 2017-18 season saw Kane stay fit for much of the season for the first time in his Spurs career. The striker was the main scoring threat for the club and without Kane in the team, Spurs would have struggled to make the top four. Although the same could have been said for Liverpool and Mohamed Salah.
If Kane wins the World Cup Golden Boot, he could follow in similar footsteps to former Everton, Tottenham, and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker. The former England international topped the goal scoring charts at the 1986 World Cup. The feat influenced Barcelona to part with £2.8 million to sign the Englishman.
Kane could follow in the same footsteps as Lineker, although it could be team other than Barcelona that he joins.
But how would Tottenham fare without their striker? Kane scored 30 of Tottenham’s 70 Premier League goals in 2017-18. It was 41 percent of the club’s league goals. Of the Premier League’s top 10 goal scorers, Kane had the highest percentage of his team’s strikes. Salah was the nearest to Kane’s 41 percent. The Liverpool winger scored 38 percent of Liverpool’s goals.
The good news for Tottenham is not many of the Premier League’s clubs could afford Kane. The ones that could would have a difficult time signing him away from Tottenham. If Spurs were to lose the striker, it would most likely be to a team abroad. FPL managers would lose one of the Premier League’s top players if Kane left. It would eliminate one of the best goal scorers from the Premier League.
FPL managers would take a major hit if Kane wasn’t a Tottenham player. Keeping him happy in North London is key to Tottenham’s success and to many FPL managers who select Kane every match day.