ARSENAL ON RED ALERT AFTER HARRY KANE 'SECURE' EXIT CLAUSE TO 'RETURN TO ENGLAND'

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane

A stunning clause in Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich contract allows the striker to ‘return to England’ for a heavily-discounted sum, with any transfer to have a knock-on effect on Arsenal’s own striker plans, according to a report.

Harry Kane has done exactly what was expected since leaving boyhood club Tottenham for Bayern Munich. The 31-year-old has scored goals for fun, with his record in Bavaria currently standing at 70 goals in 72 appearances. Kane has also laid 22 assists on for his teammates in that time.

But according to a stunning new update from BILD, there is a clause within Kane’s terms that allows the frontman to leave Bayern and move back to England.

It has long been speculated Kane may one day return to the Premier League, with Alan Shearer’s record of 260 goals in his sights.

Kane currently sits second on that list with 213 and could conceivably surpass Shearer within two seasons of Premier League play.

Per BILD, breaking Shearer’s record does appeal to Kane and accordingly, he and his team successfully added a key clause into his Bayern deal.

It’s claimed Kane can activate a clause in the January windows of 2025 and 2026 that then facilitates his move in the summer that follows.

Given the 2025 winter window has just passed without Kane triggering the clause, he will not be on the move next summer.

However, the exit mechanism remains active this time next year and if activated, Kane would then be free to leave Bayern in the summer of 2026. A transfer at that time, per BILD, will cost €65m/£54m.

That would be a sizeable sum to pay for a player who’ll be aged 32 at that time. However, Kane remains one of world football’s most productive strikers despite already being the wrong side of 30 and his game has never been based around pace.

BILD did not offer any insight into whether Kane could return to Tottenham or whether a different Premier League side would make a move.

But one club’s transfer plans who could be affected is Arsenal…

Bayern want Arsenal target as Kane replacement

Another window came and went without Arsenal signing a potent new striker. The Gunners may well overhaul Liverpool and lift their first EPL title since 2004 without one, though only time will tell in that regard.

What is clear is Arsenal did attempt to sign a striker in January, with an offer totalling £60m lodged for Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa.

Explaining Arsenal’s failed attempts to add more firepower, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano told his YouTube channel: “Probably the most asked question of the deadline day: what are Arsenal going to do?

“What we can say is Arsenal considered several options, dream options like Benjamin Sesko, almost impossible options like Alexander Isak, who were never going to leave their clubs in January.

“But Arsenal understood it was almost impossible to make it happen now, so these two names – Isak and Sesko – remain for the summer.”

On Watkins specifically, Romano added: “Arsenal tried for Watkins a few days ago, but Aston Villa were furious [about the bid arriving] before the Champions League game [vs Celtic].

“Also the transfer fee: £60m add-ons included, were not enough to convince Aston Villa.

“Unai Emery wanted the player to stay and Jhon Duran going to Al-Nassr also had an impact. For Villa, money was no longer needed.”

As mentioned, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one of two confirmed Arsenal targets for the summer. But per BILD’s update on Kane, Bayern consider Sesko one of two worthy replacements if Kane does depart.

The report stated: ‘Names such as Benjamin Sesko (21/RB Leipzig) or Viktor Gyokeres (26/Sporting) have been discussed internally.

‘Both would cost a high transfer fee of around 70 million euros, but would receive significantly less salary than Kane, who came to Bayern as a top star and earns an estimated 25 million euros a year.’

But as mentioned, Kane cannot leave via his exit clause in the upcoming summer after neglecting to trigger the mechanism in the winter window.

As such, the onus is on Arsenal to put a deal in place for Sesko BEFORE Bayern Munich come calling, potentially ahead of Kane’s return to England in 2026.

- Steve Pearson

RÚBEN AMORIM'S BRUTAL PRIVATE MESSAGE TO MARCUS RASHFORD EXPOSED BEFORE ASTON VILLA SWITCH

Marcus Rashford is expected to soon complete a loan move to Aston Villa and looks set to spend at least the remainder of the campaign away from Ruben Amorim's Manchester United

Ruben Amorim reportedly delivered a harsh parting message to Marcus Rashford as he prepares to leave Man United (Image: Getty)

Ruben Amorim reportedly informed Marcus Rashford he won't play for Manchester United again while he's in charge.

It's alleged that was the blunt message the head coach sent the forward as he heads to Aston Villa on loan. The 27-year-old is set to spend the remainder of the season at Villa, with the club having the option to make the move permanent for £40million in the summer.

As Rashford departs Old Trafford for the first time in his career, talkSPORT reported Amorim told the once-prodigal son he wouldn't be welcome in the United squad and won't ever play under him. It's been nearly two months since Rashford last donned a United shirt in a Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen.

Amorim - who recently said he'd prefer to put 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on his bench over Rashford right now - commented on the situation: "Imagine a talent like Rashford, our team should be so much better with him – but he has to change.

"If he changes, we are more than welcome [to include him] – and we need it. But in this moment we have to set some standards. We are waiting for Rashford, if he wants it really bad.

"You [the media] want to make it personal, I have nothing against Marcus, but I have to make the same rules for everybody. We need goals, we need [players who can go] one against one, we need threat in the final third."

Amorim has been less than impressed with Rashford's efforts in training, and the player made the first move by telling journalist Henry Winter he felt "ready for a new challenge" in December. Rashford will now undergo a medical on Sunday before joining Unai Emery's side on a temporary deal.

Amorim supposedly told Rashford he won't play for United again so long as he's at the helm (Image: Gett

The player is believed to have already said goodbye to his Old Trafford team-mates, who have enjoyed an upturn in results over recent weeks. Villa are covering around 70% of Rashford's £300,000-a-week wages until the end of the season, but the sum could rise to around 90% depending on certain performance-related clauses in his contract.

The Birmingham club have funded the move for Rashford after Jhon Duran joined Al-Nassr in a £65m switch. The Colombian was linked with Premier League clubs such as West Ham - who saw a £57m bid rejected last month - and Chelsea prior to completing a lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League.

Rashford will hope to give Villa a lift in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, with just four points between Emery's side in eighth and a spot in the top five. A 2-0 defeat to Wolves in the west midlands derby on Saturday extended Villa's recent drought to three league games without a win.

Villa are set to make the trip to Old Trafford on the final day of the Premier League campaign. However, Amorim can breathe a sigh of relief as Rashford won't be allowed to play against his parent club.

- Tom Sunderland

MARCUS RASHFORD EXIT COULD OPEN FOUR TRANSFERS FOR MANCHESTER UNITED

Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United has taken another turn ahead of the January transfer window closing

Marcus Rashford in action for Manchester United at Aston Villa (Image: Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford started the day thinking his options away from Manchester United had disintegrated but may well end it with a new potential opportunity.

MEN Sport reported this morning that Barcelona were unlikely to agree to a deal in the January transfer window and would instead be interested in waiting until the summer to complete a Rashford deal. However, a twist was to come from The Athletic who report on Friday evening that Aston Villa have entered talks to sign the winger.

It is unclear whether Villa would want to sign him on loan or permanently but they will have some money to spend soon with Jhon Duran set to join Al Nassr. Should Rashford now leave before the January transfer window closes, MEN Sport has taken a closer look at the deals that could be opened up for completion in the aftermath.

It is unclear whether Villa would want to sign him on loan or permanently but they will have some money to spend soon with Jhon Duran set to join Al Nassr. Should Rashford now leave before the January transfer window closes, MEN Sport has taken a closer look at the deals that could be opened up for completion in the aftermath.

Patrick Dorgu

Lecce's full-back is on the cusp of joining United but the Reds are looking to complete another exit before green lighting that through. The exit to allow Dorgu's arrival was believed to be Tyrell Malacia but in the short-term, should Rashford depart first, then the Serie A wide man can arrive.

That would be seen as a big bonus for United considering Ruben Amorim's desire to strengthen the left-side of his squad this winter.

Mathys Tel

Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be pushing incredibly hard to sign Tel before the deadline on Monday but reports from Germany suggest the winger is currently uninterested in a permanent move to North London. A loan switch is thought to be more favourable for Tel at present and United are apparently willing to offer him that.

With Rashford gone, the Reds could advance their negotiations with Bayern and perhaps sign a very exciting young talent in the process.

Bayern Munich winger Mathys Tel (Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)

Geovany Quenda

Last year, the Manchester Evening News reported that Sporting's Geovany Quenda was an option for the end of the season. If Rashford were to leave, United could loan in Tel until the end of the season before making a permanent move for Amorim's former player in the summer.

That would perhaps be the best of both worlds considering that Tel may potentially decide his permanent home is not in the Premier League.

Viktor Gyokeres

Ultimately, a permanent sale of Rashford to Villa, Barcelona or another club would be used to help the Reds sign a centre-forward. Gyokeres remains Amorim's guy and having stuck to his word of not pursuing him in January, you feel it is only a matter of time before seeds are sown to sign him in the summer.

The Swede will not come cheap so any money that United can recoup from Rashford's sale willbe used, at least in part, to sign Gyokeres.

- Jack Flintham