Conte knocks back Tottenham sack claims and refuses to rule out Kane departure: ‘It’s not my decision’
Antonio Conte has remained tight-lipped over his future but has suggested that he does not expect Tottenham to sack him before the end of the season.
The Italian coach is expected to leave Spurs when his contract expires in the summer, with no talks ongoing over extending his terms into a third season.
Tottenham have crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League in the last couple of weeks, increasing the pressure on Conte, who joked after a goalless draw with AC Milan that he could be sacked.
However, speaking ahead of Spurs’ trip to Southampton, the 53-year-old said: “This was a provocation, you understand? About my future.”
“A provocation, a joke, ‘una battuta’. When you tell something, to joke.
“You asked me about the future and I said to you that you don’t know what happens, because maybe the club can sack me.
“But I repeat, I don’t think the club is thinking this. The club sees every day what me and my staff, we are doing for this club. It was only an answer about my future.”
Conte refuses to rule out Kane departure
With that in mind, it seems that Conte is relatively certain that he won’t be sacked before the end of the season, but he is still widely expected to leave the club after the campaign ends.
Next summer could be a time of huge change for Tottenham, with star striker and club captain Harry Kane also heavily linked with a departure.
On Kane’s future, Conte once again remained coy, but certainly didn’t rule out the prospect of him leaving.
The manager said: “I think that this is a question for the club.
“For sure, the club wants to involve Harry Kane for the rest of his career in my opinion. Because when you have this type of player, a world-class striker like him, for sure you want him to stay here for the rest of his career.
“But then you know football, you know football. Sometimes it’s unpredictable but I think it’s not in my task to make a decision. This is a decision for the club and for Harry.”
Indeed, Spurs’ Premier League rivals Manchester United are credited with an interest in Kane, while German giants Bayern Munich are also thought to be in the race.
The England international’s contract at Tottenham is set to expire in June 2024, so if he refuses to sign an extension, this summer may represent the London club’s last chance to recoup a sizeable transfer fee.
Indeed, recent reports suggest that Spurs would demand a fee in the region of £100m for Kane at the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see if the Red Devils put their money where their mouth is.
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