Kane exit rumours compound Spurs woes as Mason laments loss

 

Speculation is rife that Harry Kane wants to leave Tottenham, whose woes were deepened by a loss to Aston Villa.

Harry Kane's future was the topic on everyone's lips after Tottenham's loss to Aston Villa, although Ryan Mason was more concerned with a result that put a dent in Spurs' hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Star forward Kane has been linked with a move away and signed off this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 2-1 defeat, leaving Spurs vulnerable to dropping out of the Premier League's top seven with one game to go.

The 10,000 fans inside the ground will hope Kane's lap of the pitch after the full-time whistle did not constitute a final farewell, but for interim boss Mason it was not the time to comment on speculation.

"I don't think at the moment it's time to answer questions on Harry Kane," he told the BBC's Match of the Day.

"Right now we've just lost a game in the Premier League. I will speak about the game all day long but not about individuals."

Reflecting on a match in which Spurs led early on through Steven Bergwijn's stunning strike, Mason lamented errors and slack defending as Sergio Reguilon put through his own net and Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround before the break.

"We started the game brightly, unfortunate circumstances for their first goal and they didn't have to earn the second one either," he said.

"I didn't think there was much in the game, just those moments. When you make an unfortunate mistake as we did it gives them a good feeling. We tried to break them down but didn't take those crucial moments.

"It was just about trying to keep our discipline. We lost our shape at times. It was about trying to stay patient and calm. They had pace on the counter and were always a threat. It is a disappointing evening."

Spurs conclude their season at FA Cup winners Leicester City on Sunday.