Bayern Munich’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, thinks Harry Kane cares more about defending the Bundesliga title than chasing Robert Lewandowski’s single-season goal record. Still, he admits Kane probably has breaking that record in the back of his mind. Kane scored twice in Bayern’s 3-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday, pushing his league total to 26 goals this season.

Kane’s two goals against Werder took him to an incredible 500 career goals; no English player has ever hit that milestone before. Now, Lewandowski’s mark of 41 goals in a 34-game Bundesliga season is the next big target.

When someone asked Kompany if Kane could break Lewandowski’s record, he just smiled and said, “I figure the league title means more to him than the record.” Then, with a laugh, he added, “But hey, maybe I’m wrong; I was a defender, not a striker! Kane’s Kane. He always scores.”

Kane himself got the inevitable question about chasing 41 goals. He played it cool and said, “Anything’s possible, but it’s a long season. That’s an unbelievable record. I’m in a good spot right now and glad to help the team. We’ll see where I am when April comes; maybe then I’ll think about it. For now, I’m just focused on the next game.”

With 26 goals, Kane has actually outscored seven entire Bundesliga teams this year. Heidenheim, St. Pauli, Werder Bremen, Hamburg, Augsburg, Mainz, and Borussia Monchengladbach are all behind him. Right now, he’s also leading the scoring charts across Europe’s top five leagues, ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (23) and Man City’s Erling Haaland (22).

Mario Basler, a Bayern legend, didn’t hold back; he said he believes Kane can break Lewandowski’s record, even with all the extra work Kane does for the team. Basler said, “Kane’s just a different kind of player. Lewandowski didn’t put in as much defensive work. Kane does. Sometimes he’s even helping out in midfield or backing up Nicolas Jackson when he comes on. I think he really has a shot at the record, and for me, he’s the striker of the year.”

Lewandowski, on his part, has looked back at his own achievement and said, “I scored 41 goals in 29 games that season. That’s the number I had in my mind. I broke the record in 29 matches, and, honestly, I’m proud of it. I appreciate it even more now. For me, it was always about those 41 goals in 29 games, not just whether someone would break the record. 

Bayern Munich spent the winter transfer window working behind the scenes to lock down key players for the future. Now, we’re starting to see the results. The club kicked things off on Thursday by announcing Serge Gnabry’s new two-year deal. If Gnabry hadn’t signed, he would’ve been out of contract in the summer and free to leave.

He’s clearly happy to stay. This extension means he’ll hit the ten-year mark at Bayern by the end of his new contract—no small feat in modern football.

The past year has been quite a ride for Gnabry. Not long ago, Bayern seemed open to letting him go. They listened to offers in the last two summer windows, but he dug in and fought for his spot. After a quiet season, he came back strong this year, especially during the Hinrunde. When Jamal Musiala was sidelined with a long-term injury, Gnabry filled in at number ten and made a real impact.

Staying in Munich was always his top choice, and as the season unfolded, the club opened the door for an extension. Reports even say he agreed to a pay cut to make it happen.

Gnabry’s not guaranteed to start every match these days. He’s not quite as sharp in front of goal as he once was, but his experience matters—especially in the big games. He can play anywhere across the front line, which gives Vincent Kompany tactical options. Off the pitch, his leadership is just as important. After everything he’s been through, Gnabry’s set an example for the younger players in the squad.

Bayern lost a lot of attacking experience last summer, with Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, and Thomas Müller all moving on. Keeping Gnabry just made sense, and his willingness to take a pay cut made the deal even easier for Bayern to seal.