MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Harry Kane will become Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer if he scores against Manchester City on Sunday.
However, the wait for the striker to win an important trophy will continue to wait.
Kane is on course to surpass the late Jimmy Graves’ club record of 266 goals, which has stood for 53 years. He, too, is level with Wayne Rooney with 53 goals for England and looks set to surpass both records before the end of the campaign.
Alan Shearer’s mark of 260 Premier League goals stands as the long-term record to beat, with Kane having 199 at the moment.
While these stats confirm Kane’s status as one of the greatest strikers in football history, at 29 it looks as though he won’t be fulfilled in terms of trophies.
It might have been different if Pep Guardiola had had his way in 2021 when City’s manager searched incessantly for the striker on the transfer market. Had the trade occurred, Kane might have ended the wait for his trophy — and would be even closer to Shearer’s record.
Instead it has been Erling Haaland who has been scoring for City and is on the verge of breaking the Premier League record for goals in a season.
The Norway international has thrived under Kevin De Bruyne, scoring 25 goals so far – two more than last season’s Golden Boot winners Mo Salah and Son Heung-Min scored all season. In total, Haaland has 31 goals in 26 games with City.
Although Kane cannot match the striker’s overwhelming pace, he has been more consistent than ever, scoring 16 league goals and 18 in all competitions as Tottenham trail nine points behind City and their Champions League qualification uncertain. of the next season.
Some believe that Kane might have been more suited to Guardiola’s tactics than Haaland due to his ability to drop down and link up midfield with attack. But City’s system has become more direct with Haaland in charge and at times, more predictable.
Even with the 22-year-old striker’s numbers, the reigning league champions are five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and a game away. It could be eight units difference when the match between City and Tottenham begins because Arsenal faces Everton on Saturday.
