by Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has backed Harry Kane for a “brilliant future” after 30 but will not force the forward’s contract situation.
Kane has enjoyed another superb season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, but recent exits from the FA Cup and Champions League have seen Spurs go on to a 15th consecutive season without trophies.
It has heightened scrutiny over the future of the England captain, whose current tenure expires in 2024, and he has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United.
Conte’s own future remains uncertain and he has no desire to engage in discussions between Chairman Daniel Levy and Kane’s camp.
“You know very well that in such a situation it is difficult for the coach to force the situation to one side or the other,” said Conte ahead of the trip to Southampton on Saturday.
“The player and the club have to try to find the right situation. Of course, I can tell you that every coach would want Harry Kane on their team, but then there are a lot of different situations that you need to see to find a situation. It’s up to the player and the club, not me.
“My assessment, my decision, I can tell you Harry is a really important player for this team, the most representative player for this team. You know how important he is on this team.
“Finding in the top four could be very important for everyone. First and foremost for the club, for the players, the coach and the fans.
“Sure, if you get in the top four, many, many situations are easier.”
Kane turns 30 this summer, and it only reinforces the feeling that the club’s record goalscorer needs to add silverware to go with the plethora of individual honors on his CV.
But Conte sees no reason for the Spurs forward to slow down after celebrating a milestone birthday in July.
He added: “As you get older you become very, very strong to pay attention to in every aspect of your life as a player. Learning a lot about yourself on and off the pitch.
“We’re talking about a player (in Kane) who shows himself to be a really, really good professional every day.
“I see a bright future for him for the rest of his career because he takes care of himself, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.
“That’s the key, when you’re 30 years old, if you take care of yourself you stay on top.
“Certainly Cristiano Ronaldo is a really good example. We have a lot of important players who had big, big careers for the rest of their playing days.”
Although nothing has been confirmed by Tottenham or their manager, Conte is expected to leave when his current terms expire in the summer.
The Italian could secure consecutive top-four finishes but admits disappointment at his failure to end Spurs’ trophy drought that dates back to 2008 lingers.
“Surely in my head and in my heart there is always the will to lift trophies. That’s why, since my arrival at Tottenham, I’ve tried to steer the entire environment in the right direction,” said Conte.
“After a year and a half we have improved many aspects, but we have to keep working on this path and sometimes I think we have failed on this path.
“We failed because we weren’t ready to face the right pressure and stress. I think we are working on that aspect.
“This season hasn’t been good for lifting a trophy but at the same time I can tell the fans that we are working very hard to make them proud and try to make this club look to the future with optimism and ready to be, to get trophies. ”
