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Dear Sir
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The Pink's Call
THE PINK'S CALL
STAY PUT, HARRY. THE RECORD CAN WAIT
Harry Kane has signed on at Bayern Munich until 2029, and somewhere a Premier League marketing department has just put its head in its hands. Good. He is right to stay.
Remember why he left. In 2023 he said he wanted to "prove myself at the highest level". He had never won a major trophy with club or country. He has now lifted five with Bayern. Last season he scored a club-record 61 goals in 51 games as they won the league and cup, and last month he won the Ballon d'Or, the first Bundesliga player to do it since 1996. That is not a man who needs to come home to finish a job. He has finished it.
Yes, he is 47 short of Alan Shearer's 260 Premier League goals, and this deal makes it less likely he ever gets them. We'd love to see it. But a record is a number in a book. A winners' medal is a Saturday night you never forget and, until Munich, Kane had never had one.
He says his whole family is happy in Munich, and he wants "to win many more titles". The deal takes him through Euro 2028 and to within a year of the 2030 World Cup. England's record scorer, playing every week in a side built to win, at 33. Whoever picks the England team should be delighted.
So no, Harry. Don't come home. Not yet. Shearer's record will keep. Trophies don't.
Facts from BBC Sport. Opinion is the Pink's own.
The Rumour Mill
Today's transfer whispers, and who is whispering them
VILLA WHISPERS
Aston Villa are in advanced talks with manager Unai Emery over a new contract following recent links with Manchester United, says the Telegraph.
NYONI WHISPERS
Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni, 19, is expected to sign a new contract with the club after a £30m offer for the Englishman from Nottingham Forest was turned down in the summer, says the Athletic.
UNITED WHISPERS
Leeds United could sign Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, 23, on a permanent deal in January as Valencia prepare to terminate the Englishman's loan spell, says Football Insider.
ROQUE WHISPERS
Everton are eyeing Palmeiras' Brazilian striker Vitor Roque, 21, who is expected to have a price tag of around £42m, says Sport.
UNITED WHISPERS
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all scouting Galatasaray's Russian midfielder Aleksey Batrakov, 21, says Teamtalk.
JACOBO RAMON TO UNITED
Como defender Jacobo Ramon, 21, is also on Manchester United's radar, but they could face competition for the Spaniard from Chelsea, says Teamtalk.
RAFA EYES PREMIER RETURN
Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez wants to return to management in the Premier League, says the Talksport.
BECKER WHISPERS
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, 34, is attracting interest from Flamengo, as the Brazilian is out of contract at Anfield in June, says Sport Witness.
Rumours as reported by the outlets named, collected by BBC Sport's gossip column. The Pink has not confirmed them.
The Pools Panel
What the chances said should have happened, from expected goals (xG) in the match data, against what did. The panel agreed with 6 of 10 results.
| Match | xG | Panel | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Betis | 2.7-0.9 | Home | Home | ✓ |
| FC Porto 4-1 Napoli | 2.8-1.4 | Home | Home | ✓ |
| Lens 1-9 Como | 0.8-4.3 | Away | Away | ✓ |
| PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Club Brugge KV | 3.0-1.8 | Home | Away | ✗ |
| RB Leipzig 2-3 Man City | 0.9-2.3 | Away | Away | ✓ |
| Slavia Praha 1-2 Arsenal | 2.2-1.6 | Home | Away | ✗ |
| Viking 4-1 Sabah FA | 2.7-1.5 | Home | Home | ✓ |
| AEK Athens FC 2-3 Real Madrid | 0.9-3.4 | Away | Away | ✓ |
| Fenerbahçe 3-2 Liverpool | 1.8-1.6 | Draw | Home | ✗ |
| Rennes 0-0 Olympiakos Piraeus | 0.6-1.0 | Away | Draw | ✗ |