Ryan Mason believes Tottenham do not need to qualify for next season's Champions League in order for Harry Kane to remain at the club.
Missing out on Europe's premier competition 12 months ago after such a mixed year in N17, Tottenham's form since the turn of the year has left the team with an uphill battle to finish in the top four.
Spurs are currently five points adrift of Chelsea in fourth and now have five league games remaining to overturn that deficit in their quest to secure Champions League football.
Given the team's dreadful run of form this year that has seen them slide down the league table and also embarrassingly crash out of Europe, talk of a summer exit for Kane has gone up a notch or two.
The England captain has made no secret of his desire to win silverware but that has just not happened for him at Tottenham during his player career so far, with Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City another missed opportunity.
City and Manchester United have both been linked with a move for the striker this summer, but they would have to part with huge money just for even Daniel Levy to consider selling his main man.
Amid the talk of a big-money exit finally coming to fruition this summer, interim head coach Ryan Mason was asked whether or not his team need to guarantee Champions League football in 2021/22 for Kane to remain.
"I don’t think so," said the 29-year-old in his pre-match press conference. "Harry Kane loves this football club. That’s been proven over the last seven or eight years.
"He’s one of the best strikers in the world. Everyone knows that, we know that and I’d like to think Harry knows that as well.
"The most important thing right now, and our attention right now, is this weekend. We can’t disrespect any opponent and we can’t be investing our energy into anything else. That’s all I have to say on the matter.
"Our attention, Harry’s attention, the attention of this whole football club is on this Sunday."
When asked if he's had a conversation with Kane over his future at the club given the interest in him, Mason added: "No, I’ve not spoken to Harry. Harry is a constant professional.
"There haven’t been and there won’t be any conversations with me and him regarding anything apart from the training day or the match ahead.
"He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever met in my life so Harry Kane has been training excellently this week.
"He’ll be training excellently tomorrow, I know that, and he’ll be ready for the weekend."
