Harry Kane leads the way as Daniel Levy smashes Tottenham’s wage structure

Kane now stands alone as the top earner having been on the same basic wage as goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. It is in keeping with Daniel Levy’s policy of rewarding players on merit through incremental wages, but with Kane having come through the ranks at Spurs, this represents a huge statement.

The England captain has doubled his £100,000-a-week wage – which had been due to expire in 2022 – coming less than a month after his manager Mauricio Pochettino put pen to paper on a new five-year deal to keep him at the club until 2023.

Kane became the second fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals last season with his dramatic equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in February, coming in 141 appearances, and Twitter has been awash with calls from Tottenham supporters to name their new state-of-the-art stadium after him following his latest show of commitment.

The striker’s new six-year deal is worth a reported £90million with Spurs chairman Levy having decided to rip up the club’s strict wage structure by doubling the talisman’s salary. With Gareth Bale’s future uncertain at Real Madrid, the repercussions of Kane’s sign of loyalty will be felt in Spain.

Having missed out on silverware again last campaign – stretching the club’s wait for a trophy into an 11th year – there were fears that Pochettino had taken the club as far as he could with a growing sense that the side could be dismantled in the summer transfer window.

But with Madrid seeking a new manager, Pochettino has signalled his intention to stay and less than a week before the start of the World Cup, Spurs have received a further boost by tying down Kane until June 2024.

Levy has been renowned for operating a tight ship at Spurs, but he acknowledges the importance of Kane fronting the club’s move into their new 62,000-seater stadium that cost the best part of £1bn to make - alongside their talented Argentine manager.

His last contract was only signed in 2016, but an impressive World Cup showing with England in Russia will have led to further enquiries from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. But Kane has previously said that winning a title with Spurs would mean more than winning elsewhere, and with 41 goals in all competitions last term, he is determined to make this dream a reality.

Real Madrid are still reeling from the departure of Zinedine Zidane, and Spurs have sensed the perfect opportunity to make a statement that will be felt across Europe.

Given the player’s focus on playing well for England, it is likely that the agreement to extend Kane’s Tottenham stay was reached several weeks ago, which will certainly have played a part in Pochettino’s decision to do likewise.

Kane was also handed the England captain’s armband long before it was made public, and with England enjoying a day off from training following their 2-0 win over Costa Rica at Elland Road, this was the perfect moment to announce more good news for both club and country.

England can enjoy a World Cup free from speculation surrounding their star striker, while Tottenham can kick on in their quest to build a squad capable of improving on their third-placed finish. Pochettino is actively looking to sign players who are young and with the potential of a re-sale value, but Levy will not be held to ransom over his targets.

Aston Villa failed in their high-risk strategy to reach the Premier League via the £170m-match in the Championship play-offs, but they have still placed a £40m valuation on Jack Grealish. Spurs have also shown an interest in Wilfried Zaha, but such is the player’s importance to Crystal Palace, they have been put off his £70m price tag.

News of Kane’s stay will not have gone unnoticed by both players eager to better themselves, and with the striker seen working in a control room, operating the big screens at the new stadium, this could come to be seen as a symbolic, ground-breaking day in the club's history.

At 24 years old, there’s clearly still room for improvement - he doesn’t score in August, for starters - but no player has scored more than his 84 Premier League goals in the past three seasons. It’s his consistency that makes him the jewel in Tottenham’s crown.

With the eyes of the world watching in Russia this summer, Kane’s new contract is a major milestone, a signal of intent to quash any lingering doubts that this would be a summer when things would begin to unravel with finances thought to have been tight.

Davinson Sanchez, Harry Winks, Kyle Walker-Peters and Cameron Carter-Vickers have already signed new long-term deals, while the knock-on effect of Kane’s decision to commit his future to Spurs could increase the likelihood of Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Son Heung-min doing likewise.

Even Danny Rose and Toby Alderweireld, who are both expected to leave Tottenham this summer, could have a change of heart following the announcement. They have wanted assurances that the club can make a pivotal step to the next level, both domestically and in Europe.

Having crashed out of the Champions League last 16 to Juventus and failed to mount a serious title challenge, there were fears that Kane would have to leave in order to further his career, but one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen now appears convinced he can compete for honours with his current employers.

Can Spurs bridge the gap to Premier League champions Manchester City? This will be the ultimate aim for the club as they return to White Hart Lane. They are yet to reach the levels of Pep Guardiola’s side, but they will see this as a major step in getting there.

Competing for the best players in the world will remain an obstacle given the constraints caused by building a new stadium, but the first task has seemingly been accomplished in keeping one of their own.

As Kane explained on the club’s official website: “I’m really excited, it’s a proud day. Obviously, it’s been a great few seasons and I’m looking forward to the future. I’m looking forward to the new stadium first and foremost and just to keep progressing as a Club.

“It’s been fantastic to consistently get in the Champions League so I’m really excited to have another go at that and with the Premier League and FA Cup, we’ll look to go as far as we can.”

Greatness should not be measured purely on trophies, but having become Tottenham’s leading scorer in the Premier League era, it is collective rather than individual accolades that Kane now craves.