When Kane joined Bayern on a four-year deal in 2022 from Tottenham there was a feeling, certainly in England, that he might return home at the end of that deal.

Kane had never won a trophy during his time at Tottenham, or with England, so the pull of going to a team who win trophies nearly every year was strong.

But many also thought after bagging a few medals he would perhaps try to break the Premier League goalscoring record (sitting 47 behind Alan Shearer).

In fact he admitted as much last week, saying: "When I first left, for sure it was something I thought - I would definitely be coming back. That itch isn't there as much anymore."

The 33-year-old has loved his time at Bayern and says he is ready to begin discussions over extending that deal.

That love is very much mutual. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness has called Kane "the best signing we've ever made".

This is a club who have had some legendary goalscorers in Gerd Muller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Robert Lewandowski.

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season, the most a Bayern player has ever struck in one campaign.

That took his total to 146 goals - plus 33 assists - in 147 games for Bayern. He won the European Shoe in 2024 and 2026 and 'just' the regular Bundesliga Golden Boot in 2025.

He also scored all three goals in the German Cup final win over Stuttgart to complete the 2026 double.

"There are many fans who believe he could win the Ballon d'Or," said Eckner.

"Bayern are lobbying for it [and it is] also a sign towards the much younger Michael Olise that a move to Real Madrid wouldn't be necessary to win the Ballon d'Or.

"Kane has impressed with his very consistent and relentless goalscoring in the Bundesliga. He has essentially filled the shoes of Robert Lewandowksi, who put up similar numbers.

"Bayern rely heavily on Kane. They haven't signed a real back-up for him, nor a potential replacement. His contract runs out at the end of the season, but Bayern are sure he will extend for a few more years."

Were Kane to win the Ballon d'Or he would be only the second Englishman to win it since the 1970s and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.

"The Ballon d'Or is as big as it gets, from an individual point of view," he said.

"It'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."

However last November Kane admitted: "I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don't win the Champions League or the World Cup, you're probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or."

He lost in the semi-final of both competitions.

Another one of Bayern's irreplaceable players is another Londoner in Olise, who represents France at international level.

The forward has scored 43 goals - including one in this season's Super Cup - with 46 assists in just over two years at the club.