Merson insists Kane brings more ‘to the party’ than Haaland
Paul Merson says Harry Kane “brings everything to the party” after watching the England international score again as Tottenham beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday.
Kane scored a spot-kick against Dean Smith’s side to take his Premier League goals tally for the season to 17, level with Liverpool striker Mo Salah.
There have been rumours that Kane might have to leave Spurs in the summer after they were knocked out of the Europa League in surprising circumstances on Thursday, while they are currently outside the top four places in the Premier League.
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And Merson thinks Kane is the “best centre-forward in the world” and brings more “to the party” than Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who has been linked to a host of Premier League clubs.
Merson told Sky Sports: “He’s got an all-round game and I personally think he’s the best centre-forward in the world, he’s the only player I know who has got the whole package.
“People will go ‘oh (Erling) Haaland, he’s 20, he scores goals, that’s what he brings to the party’. Kane brings everything to the party.
“He’s got an array of passing, he can put people in, he can join the play. I can’t talk highly enough of the lad, I really can’t, he’s a special, special player.
“I’m not sure about it (breaking Shearer’s record), at 30, 31 he’s still got to get 25 a season. He can play so much deeper and he’s a team player. He’s not someone like an (Sergio) Aguero who’s just going to sit in the box.”
The Premier League’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer scored 260 goals in the competition with Kane’s penalty against Villa putting him exactly 100 goals behind the former Newcastle United striker.
And Merson’s fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp reckons Kane can beat that record. He said: “As long as he stays in this country yes, 25 goals a season for the next four seasons, of course he can do that.
“He’s got everything going for him. He will get goals, the fella just can’t help it. He’s born to score.
“He gets in the right areas, he’s playing slightly deeper but he’s getting his goals, goal involvements as well. He’ll break that Alan Shearer record, make no mistake about it, it’s just a matter of time.”