HARRY Kane is a goalscorer. And a very good one at that. The 30-year-old is the England national team’s all-time top scorer (62 goals), the second highest scorer in the Premier League (213 strikes) and is on course to break a host of records in his debut Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich. Yet Kane’s lack-of silverware has continued to be a stick in which is used to beat him irrespective of his exceptional performances season-on-season.
The striker’s move to Bayern last summer was supposed to be the turning point. The Bavarians have won each of the previous 11 Bundesliga titles – a feat no other side has managed across the big five European leagues. But once again, there are growing fears that this may turn out to be another trophy-less season for Kane, albeit despite the Englishman enjoying one of the most prolific campaigns that the German top-flight has witnessed.
And the signs were apparent from day one. After completing his reported £100million switch from Tottenham at the start of last August, the striker was thrust straight into Bayern’s matchday squad for their German Super Cup clash with RB Leipzig just hours after signing. But Kane was unable to make the difference, coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat which meant that his trophy drought rumbled on. And as the striker has sent goalscoring records tumbling, it is a theme that has seemed to continuously follow Bayern throughout the campaign.
Kane has struck 31 goals across 26 appearances in the German top-flight this term, breaking former-Hamburg forward Uwe Seeler’s record of 30 strikes for the most goals scored in a maiden Bundesliga season. And the English talisman has plenty more records in his sights.
Kane is eyeing ex-Bayern striker Robert Lewandowki’s single season record of 41 Bundesliga goals. For almost 50 years it appeared implausible that Bayern legend Gerd Müller’s record of 40 league strikes in 1971-72 would be broken. That was until Lewandowski notched his 41st goal in the 90th minute of the final day of the 2020-21 campaign. So surely it was a record that would be untouchable for another half a century. Though that scenario did not take into consideration the almighty goalscoring prowess of Bayern’s latest No9 Kane.
The 30-year-old has had a remarkable campaign on a personal level, with a goal tally that includes four hat-tricks and four braces. It should also come as little surprise that this is also now his personal best in a league season. Additionally, Kane has almost doubled the totals of the Bundesliga’s top scorers from last season, with Niclas Füllkrug and Christopher Nkunku sharing the Torjägerkanone with 16 goals each.
But Kane is much more than just a goalscorer. The Englishman has also provided seven Bundesliga assists this season, meaning he is on 38 direct goal involvements – a league high – and is thus one shy of having been involved in half of Bayern’s goals this season. The striker has posted incredible numbers, boasting more shots (116), shots on target (51) and the highest xG tally (25.6) of any player in the big five European leagues.
Yet despite Kane’s prolific returns in front of goal this season, it is set to be a better disappointment for his side Bayern. The Bavarians trails Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen by 10 points in the Bundesliga table with just eight games remaining, something which no side has ever managed to overturn and go on to win the title.
Bayern were also eliminated from the DFB-Pokal, having lost to third tier Saarbrücken back in November, with the Champions League now seemingly their most viable chance of silverware. Thomas Tuchel’s side have received a tough draw in Premier League leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals, but that is surely to be a tie that Kane will relish against his former-North London foes. And there is no doubt that the former Tottenham-striker will be vital to any success that Bayern may have in the competition.
Question marks have though emerged surrounding Kane’s fitness heading into the back end of the campaign. The striker had to be substituted in Bayern’s last game against Darmstadt after crashing into the goalpost, with manager Tuchel taking no precautions over a potential ankle injury. The knock is set to be assessed by England staff ahead of the Three Lions’ friendlies with Brazil and Belgium, while all parties will be extremely eager for the striker to get the all-clear as we reach the business end of the season.
And though it is looking increasingly likely that it will be a trophy-less campaign for Kane with Bayern this year, he will be looking to ensure he does get his hands on silverware in Germany with England at the upcoming European Championships this summer.
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