Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of keeping Harry Kane this summer may have just gotten a bit slimmer…
What’s the word?
According to the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has given his manager Pep Guardiola the green light to pursue a move for the Spurs striker this summer.
The Citizens owner believes that the Premier League champions need to send a strong message in the transfer market and has confirmed that they will be looking at finding a replacement for the departed Sergio Aguero, in which Kane features as a key target.
“This is actually the time to send a strong message that there is no contentment and that we are not just satisfied with just winning the league,” claimed Al Mubarak. “We lose a very important legend in Sergio Aguero, very hard shoes to fill but I am confident we will find the right player to fill those shoes.”
Long summer ahead
Last month, Spurs were rocked with the bombshell that their 27-year-old talisman expressed his desire to leave his boyhood club in the summer as he seeks to add silverware to his goal-laden career, as per Sky Sports.
Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy has remained firm thus far, with reports suggesting that he is unwilling to sell the England international and that he certainly has no intention of strengthening a Premier League rival.
Although the ball seems to be firmly in Kane’s court as it’s also thought that the had a gentlemen’s agreement with Levy that he would stay to try and win a trophy in Jose Mourinho’s first full season in charge – the Portuguese boss was sacked on the week of the Carabao Cup final.
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Spurs have had their fair share of transfer sagas and Levy has been in this position before. Back in 2011, Luka Modric submitted a transfer request following interest from London rivals Chelsea before signing for Real Madrid a year later.
According to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, Kane likes the idea of playing for Man City, though not even £150m may not be enough to tempt the Spurs chairman.
It’s clear that the North London outfit are going to be in for a long summer of uncertainty, however, this fresh twist does not help Levy’s cause whatsoever and he may well be left absolutely reeling.
City certainly have the financial clout to test his resolve, especially after the 2020/21 campaign saw them clinch their fifth Premier League title, whilst also making their first-ever Champions League final.
A signing of Kane’s calibre could be exactly what Guardiola needs to finally get them over the line in Europe and now he’s been given the green light to sign him, who knows how much the Manchester giants can throw at him?
Kane wants to leave, City are going to pursue him and Guardiola has a war chest of funds available at his disposal. It puts Levy in a tricky spot, even more so when considering that Spurs’ next manager will likely want the prolific marksman at the club next season.
Trying to compete without a player that directly contributed towards 54.4% of your top-flight goals throughout the 2020/21 season is a worrying prospect. He has also hit at least 17 goals in every Premier League campaign since 2014/15, too, as per WhoScored.
This latest development will leave Levy seething, that’s for sure.
AND in other news, Levy risks major Spurs disaster with “cheap” Poch alternative who once wowed Guardiola…