'Bayern BLACKMAILED by Spurs over Kane!'
FT Desk
- 22 Aug 2023 14:10 BST
- 3 min read
A Bayern Munich legend has suggested his former club was extorted by Tottenham during negotiations over Harry Kane.
Kane, 30, brought to an end almost 20 years at Spurs this summer, moving to the Bundesliga in a deal worth £100 million.
And wasted no time in endearing himself to his new employers with a goal on his league debut on Saturday as Bayern started their latest title defence with a 4-0 victory away to Werder Bremen.
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The striker's record in front of goal at the elite level is undisputed, and he is coming off one of the best seasons of his career after smashing 30 Premier League goals in 2022-23.
Even so, Lothar Matthaus believes that Bayern may have overpaid for his services.
'Bayern blackmailed'
“Those in charge at Bayern were and are 100 per cent convinced of Harry Kane," the ex-Germany star told Sky90.
“And that’s why they stretched themselves, that’s why they pushed their limits.
“And maybe Bayern has also – in quotation marks – been a little blackmailed by Tottenham.
“Another million more and a little bit more. They wanted this player.
“And I say – €100m [initial £85m fee] for a 30-year-old – Lewandowski was three years older when he left and went to Barcelona for around €50m [£42m] – I now assume that it will pay off.”
Kane is now looking forward to his home league bow at the Allianz Arena, as Bayern prepare to host Augsburg on Sunday.
