Joe Cole has been speaking about Harry Kane and his England international team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who seems set to leave Liverpool
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Harry Kane is enjoying another incredible season for Bayern Munich
Harry Kane is enjoying another incredible season for Bayern Munich
(Image: LUKAS BARTH-TUTTAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool stand on the verge of winning their 20th league title but there is a growing feeling it will be a summer of change at the club. The Reds need 16 points from their last nine games of the season to be crowned Premier League champions.
But for a number of players who have helped propel Arne Slot's side into what appears to be an unassailable lead at the top of the table, it could well be their last seasons at Anfield.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold seems set to sign for Real Madrid once his contract expires at the end of June while Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will also be free agents come July 1 unless new terms are agreed.
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Salah, like Van Dijk, has made it clear that he wants to stay and, while he will be 33 by the time the 2025-26 campaign kicks-off, the Egypt captain shows no sign of slowing down, as his incredible numbers this season attest.
They are numbers that would almost be impossible to replace unless Liverpool were able to bring in another of world football's elite forwards.
Enter Harry Kane. The England captain, like Salah, is enjoying another magnificent campaign. He has now registered 101 goal involvements in 83 appearances for Bayern Munich, who he joined in the summer of 2023 for £100m from Tottenham Hotspur.
There appears to be no desire on Bayern's part to sell the 31-year-old but that has not stopped speculation suggesting he could be heading back to the Premier League amid the revelation that is contract with the German giants contains a £65m release clause.
When asked about it recently, Kane said: "What I can say is that I'm very happy at FC Bayern. No comment on the clause."
Liverpool are one of the teams who have been linked with Kane and, regardless of what happens with Salah, they look set to be in the market for a new No.9 this summer.
And former Reds and England midfielder Joe Cole can see the logic in the links. Speaking to Paddy Power, Cole said: "Every Premier League club need Harry Kane, barring Manchester City as they’ve got Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.
"If Mo Salah leaves, Liverpool will need a statement footballer, and Kane would be good there as he can score loads of goals and win trophies. And for him, it would be more acceptable to go to Liverpool from Tottenham.
"Now the real naughty ones are Arsenal and Chelsea, who are both desperate for a new striker, but that would reverberate around North London.
"Harry Kane needs to shop at the top market, so I don’t think any of the team in the bracket below will entice him to come back to England, it’ll have to be a team that’s realistically got a shot of winning the league."
It would still be a major surprise to see Kane arrive on Merseyside. However, it is growing increasingly likely that Alexander-Arnold will be swapping Merseyside for Madrid.
"For Trent Alexander-Arnold, it can’t be the wrong call going to Real Madrid as they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world," Cole said to Paddy Power.
"I think it’s one of those rare situations, and you only get it if you’re a top player, where Trent will be sad to be leaving Liverpool, however he’ll be excited to go to Madrid.
"I think Real Madrid will be excited to have him because they haven’t got anything like him in their squad and I’m sure Trent will be excited for the challenge of playing for the biggest club in the world.
"The Liverpool fans will be sad to see him go as he’s one of their better players, but as time goes on, I think he’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with all the top players that have come through at Liverpool. He’s done a great job, and you’ve just got to wish him all the best."