Bayern’s strategy to keep Harry Kane beyond the summer revealed

Sport Bild claims to know the strategy Bayern Munich have laid out to keep Harry Kane amid speculation over his future.

There has been plenty of speculation recently about whether Harry Kane could leave Bayern Munich and return to the Premier League next summer.

The England captain’s contract runs until 2027 and includes a release clause that has been decreasing each season since 2024. By the summer of 2026, it will reach its lowest point of €65 million, but Kane must activate the clause before January 31, 2026, after which it will expire.

The contract also includes a “matching rights” clause for Tottenham, allowing the Spurs to match any offer from another English club.
 

Wait-and-see game

According to Sport Bild, Bayern have no plans to buy out the clause, as that would likely be costly. Instead, the club is waiting to see whether Kane seriously considers leaving.

Bayern hope Kane will prioritise the chance to win the Champions League over chasing the Premier League scoring record, for which he needs just 48 more goals. Their plan, the report says, is to wait until the release clause expires before potentially intensifying talks to extend his contract.

Currently earning an estimated €24 million per year, Kane is one of Bayern’s top earners, and his salary is not expected to rise even in the event of an extension – especially since he will be 34 by 2027.
 

Life without Kane

At the same time, Bayern are preparing for life without Kane. Head coach Vincent Kompany has been testing a two-striker setup, with Kane playing behind Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson, currently on loan from Chelsea, could be signed permanently at the end of the season. Bayern hold a €65 million purchase option but would likely renegotiate the fee if they decide to make the move permanent.

Another alternative is Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract with Juventus expires this summer. According to Sport Bild, Bayern are in contact with his representatives, and the striker is reportedly very interested in a move to Munich.
 

“Harry is getting better every year”

For now, however, there are no signs that Kane wants to leave – a point the striker himself recently confirmed.

“We are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else,” Kane told The Guardian.

“I am fully all in with Bayern. If there was a conversation about extending then we will see, but I have still got this season and another season. It is not like I am in my last year, it is not like there is any panic.”

From Bayern’s perspective, a contract extension is a no-brainer if Kane wants to stay and continues his current form.

“Harry feels completely comfortable. We will discuss it [Kane’s future] at the right time. For now, our focus is entirely on the current season,” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen told Welt am Sonntag, adding:

“Contrary to all the pessimistic forecasts two years ago, Harry is getting better every year. If this continues, the answer is clear.”