The ongoing Harry Kane transfer saga has persisted as one of the most enduring narratives in recent football transfer history. This week, the saga might finally reach its conclusion, with Bayern Munich submitting an offer that Tottenham would be hard-pressed to decline. While the proposed fee is substantial and could potentially break club records, the true allure lies in the impeccable alignment between Harry Kane’s playing style and Thomas Tuchel’s tactical vision. This convergence has fueled Bayern’s unwavering determination to secure Kane’s signature.
Read More: Harry Kane transfer news: Spurs accept Bayern’s €100 million offer!
Bayern’s Approach to the False 9 Strategy
Delving into Bayern Munich’s tactical approach, Thomas Tuchel has consistently advocated for the ‘False 9’ strategy, prioritizing fluid interchange within the forward line. This strategy yielded remarkable results during his inaugural season at Chelsea, where the seamless collaboration among Havertz, Werner, and Mount led to numerous positive outcomes.
Following the departure of Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich initially relied on Sadio Mané’s powerful running and ability to exploit spaces. Although effective in the early stages, this approach necessitated subtle adjustments to align with the Bavarian giants’ desired style of play. As opposing teams adopted deep defensive formations against Bayern’s possession-based tactics, the availability of space behind the defense diminished significantly.
While Sadio Mané’s movements within the penalty area and his dynamism during attacking transitions remained noteworthy, Bayern faced a void in terms of back-to-goal link-up play. Additionally, the absence of a naturally imposing striker inside the box, capable of captivating the attention of multiple defenders, was keenly felt.
To address these needs, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, a 34-year-old striker, was introduced. Choupo-Moting showcased commendable link-up qualities and imposing physicality, contributing even with a goal-scoring rate of 0.8 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes. However, while Choupo-Moting excelled as a backup option to disrupt opposing defenses, he fell short of possessing the well-rounded skills required for consistent leadership of the forward line. His proficiency in areas such as long-passing and ball retention under pressure was limited, preventing him from excelling in ‘Target’-esque features as the elite forwards do.
With Thomas Tuchel’s arrival at Bayern Munich, the revival of the ‘False 9’ approach became imminent. Serge Gnabry emerged as the favored choice for the False 9 role, supported by Kingsley Coman’s dynamic dribbling on one flank and Leroy Sané’s direct energy on the other. Bayern aimed to exploit opposing defense vulnerabilities by utilizing the movement of players like Musiala and Müller in central areas, allowing them and Sané to make penetrating runs while Gnabry connected the attacking dots.
Despite these efforts, Bayern encountered challenges. Serge Gnabry’s lack of a dominating physical presence hindered his impact within the penalty area, and his preference for running at defenses rather than playing with his back to goal limited his effectiveness. In comparison to players like Müller, Gnabry’s positional awareness within the penalty area was lacking, rendering him suboptimal for the ‘#9’ role.
The vital importance of a focal point in the attacking front became increasingly evident. Bayern could not persist with tactics that demanded unnatural roles from their players or rely solely on Choupo-Moting to lead the line throughout the season.
This context underscores Bayern’s determined pursuit of Harry Kane during the summer transfer window. Kane’s distinction as one of the premier ‘False 9s’ in the sport, with a playing style reminiscent of a ‘#10’, rendered him an exceptional match. Astonishingly, Kane seamlessly translates his precision passing into prolific goal-scoring exploits, often positioning himself in precisely the right areas to find the back of the net.
Kane’s prowess in seeking space at the back post, along with his ability to ghost into the penalty area unnoticed, mirrors the qualities reminiscent of Robert Lewandowski. This specific trait was notably absent from Bayern’s arsenal the previous season, despite consistently generating ample chances. Kane’s arrival introduces the cutting-edge movement within the box necessary to capitalize on crucial moments and execute precise passes.
The inclusion of Harry Kane adds not only the precision and well-timed movement into the penalty area from the ‘#9’ position but also enhances Bayern’s capacity to dismantle resolute low-block defenses, a challenge they grappled with in previous seasons.
Unleashing Harry Kane’s Creative Genius
In the pursuit of breaking down low-block defenses, both Bayern Munich and Tottenham face a common challenge. They seek to devise effective schemes that disrupt organized defensive units, a task often achieved through strategic positional rotation. This approach serves to displace defenders from their customary positions, especially when employing a man-marking strategy.
Introducing Harry Kane into this context offers a novel dimension. His unique role as a central figure within the forward line grants him the ability to lead these rotations, either drawing defenders along with him or affording him additional time and space to craft opportunities from deeper positions.
However, not all ‘#9s’ possess the requisite skill set to execute these intricate passes successfully. Players like Choupo-Moting, Gnabry, and Mané have distinct abilities that set them apart but lack the finesse required for such passes.
Harry Kane’s addition to the team introduces a valuable alternative for Bayern, particularly in situations where they need to alleviate pressure from the back. Kane’s adeptness at switching play, delivering lofted passes over the defense, and maintaining composure under pressure affords Bayern a proficient outlet for releasing tension. He possesses the capability to execute basic backward passes when confronted by an onrushing defender, while also demonstrating the capacity to pivot into available space and unleash powerful strikes.
Envision the impact of this attribute, complemented by the rapidity and dynamism of Alphonso Davies down the left flank, a shift from the previous left-sided option of Ben Davies. This alteration extends into the final third of the pitch, where opposition teams commonly adopt their most robust defensive formations. Kane’s aptitude for swiftly redirecting play and altering the point of attack assumes paramount significance for Bayern’s offensive strategies.
Noteworthy is Kane’s adeptness in disguising his passes, a skill that proves invaluable when confronting low-block defenses. As opposing teams anticipate him to shift the play, Kane has the potential to exploit their expectations, delivering incisive through-passes into space to unlock defenses.
This heightened level of creativity introduces an intriguing competition with Thomas Müller’s proficiency in seeking space and generating goal-scoring opportunities. Kane’s attributes harmonize well with Jamal Musiala’s precision on the ball and swift runs into open spaces. Similarly, the dynamic runs of Gnabry and Sané, coupled with the exceptional crossing abilities of Kingsley Coman, augur well for Kane’s integration.
Thriving within this environment, Kane effectively assumes a supportive role, rarely occupying the conventional ‘#9’ position, and instead employing his awareness to forge half-yard spaces for receiving the ball before delivering game-changing passes forward.
It is this acute awareness of how to generate even a small amount of space to receive the ball, followed by an astute execution of a decisive forward pass, that introduces a distinct dimension to Kane’s play.
Given the evident alignment with Thomas Tuchel’s desired tactical approach, the prospect of having the world’s premier ‘False 9’ at his disposal appears to be a harmonious match. With the addition of Kim Min-Jae and Raphael Guerreiro, Bayern Munich is undeniably constructing a remarkable unit under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel.
What Lies Ahead for Kane’s Potential at Bayern Munich?
Bayern Munich’s impressive streak of securing 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles raises the anticipation that Kane could secure a trophy each season in Germany. Moreover, his affiliation with a perennial Champions League contender amplifies his prospects of contending for the ultimate European honor consistently.
Nonetheless, it’s crucial to note that Borussia Dortmund posed a formidable challenge to Bayern in the previous season, and our projections suggest that the Bundesliga’s outcome is far from predetermined. In contrast, the Premier League appears more inclined to be dominated by Manchester City than the Bundesliga is by Bayern Munich.
With Kane’s aspirations of joining Manchester City thwarted, his hopes of clinching a Premier League championship were on the brink of dissipation. Given this backdrop, it’s entirely understandable that he would consider a move to Bayern Munich, where the prospect of securing the title becomes more tangible. Such a transition might even expose him to a more fiercely contested title race than what the English league is currently projected to offer. Interestingly, Kane’s transfer to Bayern could further bolster the team’s chances of clinching the championship.
On an individual level, the expectation for Kane to contribute prolifically in terms of goals is paramount. He is likely to set his sights on Uwe Seeler’s longstanding records, which stand at an impressive 30 goals in a debut Bundesliga season and reaching 30 Bundesliga goals in the fewest appearances, a feat Seeler accomplished 60 years ago during the 1963-64 season. The prospect of breaking these records, which have endured for six decades, adds a compelling personal dimension to Kane’s potential Bundesliga journey.
Remarkably, even Erling Haaland fell short of surpassing these records, requiring 32 matches to attain the milestone of 30 goals. However, one could reasonably anticipate that Kane would have the confidence to outshine both of these benchmarks while competing for Thomas Tuchel’s commanding Bayern Munich squad.
Another noteworthy record on Kane’s radar is Robert Lewandowski’s remarkable feat of netting 41 goals in a single Bundesliga season, an achievement established in the 2020-21 campaign. Successfully challenging this record would undoubtedly stand as a monumental accomplishment for Kane. Yet, in line with his competitive spirit, the English striker is likely to harbor a firm belief in his capacity to undertake such a challenge.
The notion of a move to Bayern being perceived as the “less challenging route” for Kane could be a prevalent perspective. A transition to Bayern would provide Kane with a clear path to securing domestic honors, relieving him of the burden of single-handedly elevating a less formidable team up the Premier League standings. In some aspects, it could indeed be regarded as a more straightforward choice.
However, the allure of the German league offers its own set of compelling incentives. Swiftly regaining entry into the Champions League fold would understandably hold significant importance for Kane. As one of the premier talents globally, he rightly belongs on the grandest stage week in and week out. From both an individual and collective standpoint, the decision to move aligns logically for Kane, presenting a multitude of sensible reasons for his potential transfer to Bayern.
What Will Spurs’ Strategy Be in the Absence of Kane?
The absence of Kane will undoubtedly cast an imposing shadow over numerous Spurs supporters. Arguably the pinnacle of their pantheon, he emerged as a late-blooming academy gem who swiftly ascended to become the Premier League’s most lethal striker and one of its all-time greats. His departure would reverberate as a calamity on multiple fronts, even in light of reports indicating a potential windfall exceeding €100 million for his transfer (notably, history reminds us of Tottenham’s challenges in effectively reinvesting substantial sums to replace key departing players).
In the previous season, Kane achieved a remarkable feat by notching 30 goals for a team that ultimately secured an eighth-place finish. His extraordinary performance unfolded amidst a team that grappled with lackluster football, marking him as the inaugural player to surpass 25 goals for a club placed as low as eighth in the standings. Evidently, Pep Guardiola’s characterization of Spurs as “the Harry Kane team” resonates more than ever.
Kane dominated the scoring charts, accounting for a greater percentage of his team’s goals than any other player in the Premier League (42.9%). A mainstay throughout, he commenced all 38 matches, accumulating more playing time (3,408 minutes) than any of his teammates, and played an integral role across the spectrum of their endeavors.
Nonetheless, the wheels of change continue to turn, and in Kane’s absence, Tottenham faces the pressing need to swiftly adapt.
A silver lining for Spurs emerges in their ongoing transition under Ange Postecoglou, characterized by a markedly different playing style and system. The shift towards this new approach was an inevitability, whether Kane remained or not. Postecoglou’s vision likely encompassed reducing the team’s dependency on Kane, even if the striker had opted to prolong his stay.
Within the 3-4-3 formation, as orchestrated by Antonio Conte, with a pair of central midfielders, Kane’s adeptness at dropping back into midfield yielded a strategic advantage—creating numerical overloads in the middle of the field. By involving Kane, opposing center-backs were often drawn out of position, thereby generating space higher up the pitch for the incisive runs of Son Heung-min. This dynamic duo evolved into a formidable force, their partnership standing as the most lethal in Premier League history, having combined for an unprecedented 47 goals. This record surpasses any other striking duo, with a notable 11-goal lead over the second-best pair, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, who tallied 36.
While it’s evident that Son greatly benefited from Kane’s service, he has also showcased his prowess while Kane was absent. Notably, Son’s impressive contributions were on full display during the latter stages of the run to the 2019 Champions League final, a period marked by Kane’s injury. The South Korean forward has previously risen to the occasion in Kane’s absence, even though it’s worth noting that Kane has been a fixture in Tottenham’s starting lineup for 109 out of their last 114 Premier League matches over the past three seasons.
One notable distinction in Postecoglou’s preferred tactical setup revolves around the creation of central overloads. This approach involves integrating an inverted full-back to form a compact box of four alongside the midfield trio. While the striker retains some freedom to roam and engage with the ball, Postecoglou predominantly emphasizes keeping the number nine positioned higher up the pitch, thereby establishing a formidable presence in the penalty box.
Kane could conceivably adapt to this role, as demonstrated by his impressive four-goal performance in the recent 5-1 friendly victory against Shakhtar Donetsk. However, the central premise here is that this specific number-nine role could potentially suit a player with less emphasis on technical finesse, such as Richarlison. The Brazilian forward, although not entirely proven as a number nine at the club level, has enjoyed success under Tite’s stewardship as Brazil’s primary center-forward. This dynamic allows Spurs some breathing room, sparing them the immediate need to expend the funds acquired from Kane’s departure on an instant replacement.
Beyond Son’s contributions, a heightened goal output from the midfield ranks becomes imperative. Last season, Rodrigo Bentancur emerged as Spurs’ top scorer apart from Son and Kane, netting five Premier League goals. It’s worth noting that Dele Alli stands as the most recent midfielder to surpass the five-goal mark in a single Premier League season for Spurs, having achieved eight in the 2019-20 campaign.
Postecoglou’s inclination toward involving his number eights in box penetration (a role that peak Alli, incidentally, seems tailor-made for) adds a distinctive facet to his strategy. Consequently, as Bentancur recuperates from injury, the onus will fall upon him, along with James Maddison and Oliver Skipp, to elevate their contributions and infuse an additional goal threat. While finding a like-for-like replacement for Kane proves a formidable task, Tottenham’s path forward necessitates a shift towards enhanced collective prowess in the aftermath of his departure.
