Harry Kane has ‘brilliant future’ but Spurs won’t force contract situation

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has backed Harry Kane to enjoy a “brilliant future” post-30 but will not force the forward’s contract situation.

Kane has enjoyed another excellent campaign and scored 22 goals in all competitions, but recent FA Cup and Champions League exits have consigned Spurs to a 15th consecutive trophyless season.

It has heightened the scrutiny on the future of the England captain, whose current terms will expire in 2024, and he has been linked with a summer switch to Manchester United.

Uncertainty remains over Conte’s own future and he has no desire to get involved in any discussions between chairman Daniel Levy and Kane’s camp.

“You know very well that in this type of situation it is difficult for the coach to force the situation on one side or the other,” Conte said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Southampton.

“There is the player and the club to try to find the right situation. For sure I can tell you that every coach wants Harry Kane in his team, but then there are a lot of different situations that you have to see to find a situation. It is on the player and the club, not on me.

“My evaluation, my decision I can tell you Harry is a really important player for this team, the most representative player for this team. You know the importance that he has in this team.

“To finish in the top four could be very important for everybody. First of all for the club, for the players, the manager and the fans.

“For sure if you finish in the top four many, many situations are more simple.”

This summer Kane will turn 30 and it only increases the feeling that the club’s record scorer needs to add silverware to go with the plethora of individual honours on his CV.

But Conte sees no reason for the Spurs forward to