Harry Kane has been told that he would post similar numbers to Erling Haaland if handed the No.9 jersey at Manchester City. The Blues were keen on the England captain at one stage, as they sought to bring another prolific presence onto their books. No deal was done with Tottenham and Kane ultimately headed to Bayern Munich, with Norwegian striker Haaland being added to star-studded ranks at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland goals 2025-26: Stunning numbers of Man City striker
Haaland has been a sensational addition for City, helping them to a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble in his debut season. He hit 52 goals in the 2022-23 campaign. He won a second Golden Boot during his second year in England and has reached 136 efforts in total for City through 155 appearances. He is just six short of 100 in the English top-flight.
The 25-year-old has been in stunning form this season, reaching 21 goals across 12 appearances for City and Norway. He hit a hat-trick for his country in a World Cup qualifier with Israel, having previously posted five efforts in an 11-1 demolition of Moldova. He tops the Premier League scoring charts again with nine goals there.
Kane is not far behind, with the 32-year-old finding the target on 18 occasions for Bayern and England through 10 outings. He has two hat-tricks to his name and is looking to land the Bundesliga Golden Boot for a third successive season – having moved to Germany in 2023 and breaking his much-publicised trophy duck.
AdvertisementGettyWould Kane be as prolific for Man City as Haaland is?
Kane has not scored fewer than 24 goals across the last 11 campaigns and is considered to be – as the all-time leading scorer for Spurs and the Three Lions – one of the greatest frontmen to ever play the game. What would have happened had he headed to the blue half of Manchester?
When that question was put to former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, he told : “I've always thought from an outsider's perspective, if you put Harry in Manchester City's team, with the chances they were creating, would he have scored the same amount of goals as Haaland? I would not be in the least bit surprised if he did.
“As a pure footballer, Harry can play more positions, he can move into those deeper positions. I've been fortunate enough to see Harry play quite a few times for Bayern Munich. When you are watching a game when Haaland is at his best, your eye is always drawn to him. It seems like there are 21 footballers out there and Haaland.
“If you go and watch Harry Kane at Bayern, one of the top teams in the world, it is Kane and 10 others. He is a force of nature. And not just in Bundesliga games. I am talking Champions League games. He is a colossus.”
Does England captain Kane get the recognition he deserves?
It has been suggested that Kane does not receive the recognition that his exploits deserve, with the Bayern talisman tumbling to 13th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or vote. Former Scotland international Nevin added on that debate: “Far be it from a Scotsman to tell English people what to think, but although much-loved I still think Harry is slightly underestimated. This guy is utterly and completely brilliant.
“It is no denigration of Erling Haaland, who is one of the great players in world football. In England, they admire Harry and all the rest of it, but he also should be considered one of the greats in world football. Maybe he's not seen as that in England, but he is.
“Harry's numbers are fantastic. They are even better when you consider a lot of these numbers were achieved when he was playing with Spurs. Spurs were a good side but they weren't Manchester City. It's not a problem with Haaland, but I just don't think Harry is put into that bracket often enough.”
GettyKane future: Transfer clauses & Premier League return rumours
It has been revealed that Kane has clauses in his contract that could be triggered in the summer transfer window of 2026. He would be available for £57 million ($76m), ahead of the final year of his deal in Munich, and there have been claims that he may be tempted to return to England and chase down Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goals record.
