Harry Kane is the subject of renewed interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich after spearheading Tottenham’s title challenge.

Kane is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League this season with 22 goals, level with Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, after netting 31 times in all competitions last term.

He will lead the Tottenham attack again tonight at Stoke, where a win will enable second-placed Spurs to close the gap on leaders Leicester to five points.

Kane is the first Tottenham player to score 20 or more top-flight goals in consecutive seasons since Martin Chivers, who achieved the feat between 1971-73. Kane was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2015 and is a contender for both that award and the main prize this year.

The striker is happy at Tottenham and has no thoughts of playing elsewhere, but sources in Spain and Germany have told Standard Sport that both Real and Bayern have asked to be kept informed of his plans.

Kane is likely to be offered a new contract in the coming months as Tottenham seek to reward their top players for a fine season.

The 22-year-old signed a five-and-a-half-year deal 14 months ago, which increased his wages to about £50,000 a week.

Real and Bayern, who are both in this season’s Champions League semi-finals, have watched Kane during this campaign. Real are thought to be considering selling Karim Benzema in the summer, and their head coach, Zinedine Zidane, has praised the England forward for his work this term.

Zidane said: “Kane and [Manchester City forward] Raheem Sterling are two exciting players for England. This ­summer in France will be a real opportunity for the rest of Europe to see how good they are.”

Kane has been taken aback by the praise. The striker told Shortlist magazine: “It’s amazing to hear those sorts of compliments from some of the best players in the world and some real legends of the game. It means I’m doing something right, which is good.”

Bayern are in contract talks with forward Robert Lewandowski, whose deal expires in three years and who has also been linked with Real Madrid.

Kane first appeared on Real’s radar last season and scouts were despatched three times to watch him in action.

Tim Sherwood assesses Tottenham's future 5 show all Tim Sherwood assesses Tottenham's future 1/5 Knocking on the door "Part of the pressure on the teams at the top is that Chelsea are out of touch and Manchester United are not looking like the side they used to be. Everyone expects them both to improve next year, so this season was seen as a great opportunity for any of the top three - Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal - to win the title, and one that might not happen again soon. I disagree as far as Tottenham are concerned. Next year it is going to get harder, that is for sure, but I don't think this season is Spurs' only chance. If they don't win it this year, then I think a lot of people would say they will be among the favourites to win it in the future. I would agree with them," Sherwood told the BBC. 2/5 Contenders "The United game showed again why Tottenham are contenders - when things don't click for them up front, they have got a solid defence to fall back on. It meant United only managed one shot on target in the entire game. Tottenham suddenly turned it on with three goals in quick succession. They can do that because they have got match-winners, players who can turn games. I don't think Dele Alli had his best game against United, or Harry Kane, but you still knew they were on the pitch. They do not go missing even if they are not playing well and they still affect the game," Sherwood told the BBC. 3/5 Going nowhere "The thing with Tottenham, which makes them different to Leicester, is that they will be able to attract the best players in the world this summer. On top of the pull of London, and the fact Tottenham are a big club anyway, there could be Champions League football, as well as the prospect of a new ground and fantastic training facilities. They also have a young team with an exciting young manager. Everything is in place, on and off the pitch. Harry Kane has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United but why would anyone want to leave?" Sherwood told the BBC. 4/5 The right man in charge "In Mauricio Pochettino, they have got a manager who has a lot of faith in young players and a good young squad. What I like about Pochettino is how he has brought them along. I gave a lot of those players their debuts so he has been able to see them first hand in the Premier League, and see that they can do the job. He has stuck with them too. He has not worried about reputations or price tags - he picks his team based on what they do on the training ground. Clearly they are hungry enough to prove they should be in the side, but credit to Pochettino for giving them a chance. Is there more to come from them? Absolutely," Sherwood told the BBC. 5/5 Strength in depth "[Against United] we saw Tottenham's strongest team - if there was a cup final tomorrow, then this would be the team playing in it. Mauricio Pochettino has rotated a lot and has taken a while to decide on his best side, but I think he has found it now, with Jan Vertonghen fit and back in the side. Injuries and suspensions aside, I would be surprised if he makes any changes between now and the end of the season, and this will be the basis of his team going forward too. The youth he has in his squad means they have the energy that is such a big part of the way they play," Sherwood told the BBC. 1/5 Knocking on the door "Part of the pressure on the teams at the top is that Chelsea are out of touch and Manchester United are not looking like the side they used to be. Everyone expects them both to improve next year, so this season was seen as a great opportunity for any of the top three - Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal - to win the title, and one that might not happen again soon. I disagree as far as Tottenham are concerned. Next year it is going to get harder, that is for sure, but I don't think this season is Spurs' only chance. If they don't win it this year, then I think a lot of people would say they will be among the favourites to win it in the future. I would agree with them," Sherwood told the BBC. 2/5 Contenders "The United game showed again why Tottenham are contenders - when things don't click for them up front, they have got a solid defence to fall back on. It meant United only managed one shot on target in the entire game. Tottenham suddenly turned it on with three goals in quick succession. They can do that because they have got match-winners, players who can turn games. I don't think Dele Alli had his best game against United, or Harry Kane, but you still knew they were on the pitch. They do not go missing even if they are not playing well and they still affect the game," Sherwood told the BBC. 3/5 Going nowhere "The thing with Tottenham, which makes them different to Leicester, is that they will be able to attract the best players in the world this summer. On top of the pull of London, and the fact Tottenham are a big club anyway, there could be Champions League football, as well as the prospect of a new ground and fantastic training facilities. They also have a young team with an exciting young manager. Everything is in place, on and off the pitch. Harry Kane has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United but why would anyone want to leave?" Sherwood told the BBC. 4/5 The right man in charge "In Mauricio Pochettino, they have got a manager who has a lot of faith in young players and a good young squad. What I like about Pochettino is how he has brought them along. I gave a lot of those players their debuts so he has been able to see them first hand in the Premier League, and see that they can do the job. He has stuck with them too. He has not worried about reputations or price tags - he picks his team based on what they do on the training ground. Clearly they are hungry enough to prove they should be in the side, but credit to Pochettino for giving them a chance. Is there more to come from them? Absolutely," Sherwood told the BBC. 5/5 Strength in depth "[Against United] we saw Tottenham's strongest team - if there was a cup final tomorrow, then this would be the team playing in it. Mauricio Pochettino has rotated a lot and has taken a while to decide on his best side, but I think he has found it now, with Jan Vertonghen fit and back in the side. Injuries and suspensions aside, I would be surprised if he makes any changes between now and the end of the season, and this will be the basis of his team going forward too. The youth he has in his squad means they have the energy that is such a big part of the way they play," Sherwood told the BBC.

Asked earlier this term about interest from the Spanish giants, Kane said: “There will always be rumours flying about but I’m happy here.

“The club are in good shape and we have a great future, so I’m raring to go and we’ll see what happens.

“We have a lot of young players who are getting better with each game. We are getting more experience with every game we play and we can only improve.”