​Harry Kane will be aiming to lift England into the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup when the Three Lions face Norway on Saturday in Miami. The Bayern Munich striker enjoyed the best season of his career, racking up 61 goals across all competitions, and he has carried that prolific form into the tournament. Kane has already scored six times in Qatar and remains right in the hunt for the Golden Boot, though he has stressed that his primary objective is helping England win the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel, who has had a tumultuous relationship with the England setup and previously managed Bayern Munich, has revealed that he fought to bring Kane to Germany. In a detailed account given exclusively to CFBayern Insider, Christian Falk traces the complexities of Kane’s move to Bayern Munich and what actually transpired behind the scenes.
Contrary to Tuchel’s later remarks, Bild journalist Falk suggests that Bayern’s desire to sign Kane was widely shared within the club. He notes that the mood in Munich was that Kane was a target that everyone at the club supported. “The guys in Munich were a little bit surprised!” Falk recalls. “I had one or two calls about Thomas Tuchel’s comments on Kane’s signing at FC Bayern, and they were asking, ‘Who does he mean?’”
Tuchel has said that, during his time at Bayern, he fought hard to bring Kane to the club, even against some counterviews. Falk’s account, however, departs from that narrative. He claims that Bayern had been pursuing Kane even before Tuchel arrived, tracing the link back to ex-sport director Hasan Salihamidžić, who had already established contact with Kane’s family through Marco Neppe, the former technical director who remained in dialogue with Kane’s representatives for over a year.
Falk describes a pivotal moment during a period of transition at Bayern. After a late-season defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, the club’s leadership decided to press ahead with concrete talks. A secret meeting was arranged at Salihamidžić’s flat, where Tuchel was asked whether he would be willing to take the helm as head coach and where the club’s broader transfer plans were laid out. Bayern reportedly told Tuchel that Kane was a priority and asked whether the new manager would be comfortable pursuing him.
According to Falk, Tuchel’s response included the phrase that he would need a couple of days to consider Kane’s age and fit, suggesting that he wasn’t ready to commit immediately. After a two-day pause, Tuchel appeared at a press conference and indicated that he also wanted Kane. This narrative implies there were no substantive arguments against Kane’s signing and portrays Tuchel as someone who needed time to reflect rather than oppose the deal outright.
Falk emphasizes that while Tuchel’s memory might be selective with the passage of time—and perhaps influenced by SEO considerations—there is a broader sense among insiders that Kane’s transfer to Bayern was a mutually agreed objective rather than a hard-fought victory by Tuchel alone. It is a reminder that in football, stories of recruitment can become complex tapestries, with multiple voices contributing to the final picture.
Meanwhile, Kane’s on-field impact for England remains a focal point as the team presses toward the knockout stages. With six goals in the World Cup so far, he continues to be a central figure for Gareth Southgate’s side, chasing personal glory while prioritizing the national team’s success. As England prepare to meet Norway in Miami, the expectations around Kane are underscored by his proven track record and his stated dedication to helping England reach the latter rounds of the tournament.