Harry Kane has confirmed he is prepared to open negotiations with Bayern Munich over a fresh contract, with his current deal at the Bundesliga champions entering its final year.
The 33-year-old striker joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2023 in a deal worth £86.4m, signing a four-year agreement. With just one season now remaining on that contract, talks over an extension are expected to get under way in the coming days.
"We obviously said we wanted to talk after the World Cup and after my holiday. So I'm not sure exactly when, but they'll start this week, next week... we'll start those talks," Kane said.
The England captain played down any sense of urgency or tension surrounding the negotiations, insisting both parties are comfortable with how things stand. "Like I've said before, we're calm, I think they're calm with the situation," he said. "Obviously now is the time to start talking, because there's only a year left. That's important. But both sides are relaxed, and I'm pretty sure there'll be some talks this week or next week."
Kane's time in Bavaria has been prolific by any measure. Last season alone, he found the net 61 times in 51 appearances across all competitions as Vincent Kompany's Bayern side swept to a domestic double, claiming both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. Since his arrival, Kane has racked up 98 goals in 94 Bundesliga matches, a rate that has earned him the league's Golden Boot in each of his three seasons at the club.
The striker also enjoyed a memorable summer on the international stage, netting six goals for England at the 2026 World Cup. That haul lifted him to 14 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, making him England's all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
Given his club and country form, Kane is now regarded as one of the frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Asked about his chances, he acknowledged the significance of the award while stressing that his attention has already shifted to the new campaign.
"The Ballon d'Or is as big as it gets, from an individual point of view," Kane said. "I know I had a great season last season, but the focus is on this new season."
He was careful to note that the outcome is out of his hands. "The Ballon d'Or's not in my hands. I've done what I can do in terms of putting in the performances. It's now down to votes and other people and the media - stuff I can't control - so we'll see what happens."
While acknowledging what winning the prize would mean, Kane made clear it was not something occupying his thoughts at present, with the decision still some way off. "Obviously, it would be amazing if it was to happen. But ultimately, it's still two or three months away before that's decided so it's not something that's at the front of my mind right now," he added.
For now, Kane's priority appears split between sustaining his remarkable scoring form for Bayern as the new season approaches and settling his long-term future in Munich, with contract talks set to begin imminently.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.