Both Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane want a transfer - but, as things stand, neither of them seems likely to get one before August 31.
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The summer transfer window has, for many years now, been a spectacle all of its own. The advent of social media has made things even more dramatic, as has the increased revenue of certain clubs. Players now wield more power than ever before when it comes to getting their moves. This, in turn, has seen more and more clubs do their best to ensure players are on long-term contracts. Thus, in the event of a player wanting a move, they can demand – and often get – a massive transfer fee. Or clubs can also simply dig in their heels and refuse to sell – a plight Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane will be all too familiar with.
In a perfect world, there would be suitors aplenty for both strikers. Both are arguably world-class talents and add plenty of goals to their sides.
Neither shows any signs of slowing down any time soon either. Yet, as things stand, it seems both players will be at their current clubs after August 31.
So how did it come to this? The answer is two-fold and might, in due time, alter the way players enter contract negotiations.
One of the biggest advantages of signing lucrative long-term deals with the club is a guarantee of more money. After all, it’s better to receive huge wages for a period of 4-5 years than it is for a period of 1-2 years.
However, as has been seen in both the Lewandowski and Kane transfer situations, the big contract has worked to the advantage of the parent club.
Kane signed his last contract extension with Tottenham Hotspur in 2018. While that might seem like a long-time ago, it’s worth noting the contract runs for six years.
Lewandowski, on the other hand, signed his a year later in 2019. Yet while it wasn’t the length of Kane’s deal, it was still one that lasts for four years.
That means that, as things stand, Kane will be a free agent only in 2024 whereas Lewandowski will be one in 2023. Of course, this works out to the advantage of the parent club.
Spurs, as things stand, don’t necessarily have the best financial situations. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out matchday revenue for the best part of a year. This was made worse by the fact that they have expenses to meet for their shiny new stadium.
Yet, due to the fact that Kane has three years left on his deal, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is in no position to worry. He can simply hold out for a large bid – or keep Kane in case no bid comes.
The same is true for Lewandowski. The Polish striker apparently wants a new challenge but Bayern’s asking price is 100 million euros, meaning he’s going nowhere.
And Bayern’s financial situation is extremely healthy, meaning they are under no compulsion to sell one of their top players.
The other factor at play is the massive transfer fees – and, of course, the individual players’ wage packets. Both are on massive pay-days that only a select handful of clubs can afford.
And with the coronavirus pandemic making clubs more circumspect in transfer dealings, even those clubs would be reluctant to spend over the odds unless necessary.
There is, of course, a feeling that if a player wants to leave then it is better to let him go. Yet that is a simplistic view of an often-complex situation.
Bayern prize Robert Lewandowski at 100 million euros because he is an invaluable player to them. Given his age – he turned 34 only recently – the fee makes no sense.
Yet the Polish striker has been a key cog in one of Bayern’s most dominant eras. What’s more, he is still in peak physical condition and still scoring goals for fun. Why lose out on him?
It’s even more difficult for Harry Kane. English players are often priced very highly by English clubs – which is why Jack Grealish fetched Aston Villa a tidy 100 million pounds from City.
It’s also why Declan Rice is valued at 80 million pounds by West Ham United, or why Harry Maguire fetched Leicester City a similar sum from Manchester United.
But in Kane’s case, he embodies the club. He’s a boyhood fan who came through the club’s youth ranks and is now one of their greatest-ever players. It is hard to put a price on that because, no matter what money the club gets, their fans will be disappointed to see him go.
All of this makes it very hard to push for a move without offending either fans or the board – or both.
The transfer market, as it is, is not regulated by salary caps or fee caps. But for players – especially ones who are approaching their peak years – the option is simple: sign shorter-length contracts.
Kane’s six-year deal is massive even by today’s standards and made any prospect of a move impossible. For Robert Lewandowski, the four-year deal made sense at the time.
Yet if he knew he’d want a new challenge in the future, surely a shorter deal would have made more sense?
Of course, it’s easier said than done in theory. And, given the trade-off is between financial security or securing a potential dream move, it will never be an easy choice.
