Harry Kane transfer latest: Manchester City put together £100m opening offer for Tottenham striker
Plus Jason Burt on how Kane must prove that the uncertainty over his club future is not a distraction for England
By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent and
Jason Burt, Chief Football Correspondent 21 June 2021 • 9:06pm
Daniel Levy values Kane at £150m and is not likely to be impressed by the news Credit: Shutterstock
Manchester City have started the ball rolling on their bid to try to lure Harry Kane away from Tottenham Hotspur by telling the England striker that they have put together an opening offer worth up to £100million.
But
Telegraph Sport understands that Spurs have been telling potential candidates to succeed Jose Mourinho as head coach that the club have no intention of selling Kane this summer.
Tottenham sources are adamant that they are yet to receive an official bid for Kane, but it is clear that City have begun the process of trying to get negotiations underway on a deal.
City are believed to have communicated to Kane that they have structured a bid worth an initial £85m, plus £15m in add-ons and first refusal on their unwanted players.
The players who City are willing to sell this summer are thought to include Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus.
It is unlikely that will be received well by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who values Kane at £150m and is unlikely to be impressed by the fact City’s intentions have been made public.
Levy is likely to seek more face-to-face talks with Kane this summer over the England captain’s future and to see whether or not there is any way of convincing him to stay.
Kane is currently on international duty with England at the European Championship, while Levy is still searching for a new head coach after seeing talks with a number of candidates to replace Mourinho break down.
Telegraph Sport reported that
Levy remains determined to try to hang on to Kane and he will do everything in his power to prevent the 27-year-old lining up against Spurs for City on the opening day of the Premier League season.
But that has evidently not put off City, who appear to be prioritising a move for Kane over Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.
City are not expected to cap their interest in Kane at £100m, but Tottenham would not accept players in exchange as part of a bid.
Kane’s City team-mate Sterling has been linked with a move in the opposite direction, but he is not interested in being used as a makeweight and Spurs would not be able to afford his wages in any case - just as they would not be able to pay the salaries of Mahrez, Laporte, Jesus or Silva.
Kane’s focus remains on England’s game against Czech Republic on Tuesday night and manager Gareth Southgate gave him a huge vote of confidence by confirming he will start that game, despite failing to score in England’s opening two group games.
Having told Totteham of his desire to leave the club ahead of the Euros, Kane has shelved any talks over his future until the tournament ends for him.
“I think the only thing that is relevant is what I have said already this week,” said Southgate. “Harry’s importance to the team, he’s been our best player, our most influential player, our most important player for a long period of time.
“Of course, there have been moments where the likes of Raheem (Sterling) have had periods where he has been critical for our success as well in terms of the goalscoring, but Harry has consistently been our top goalscorer since I have been in charge. His record is phenomenal and he is a hugely important figure for us.”
On the scrutiny Kane is facing, Southgate added: “I think it's the world of a big player, you know.
“Throughout the time I've been England manager, I must have answered these sorts of questions about Harry in three or four different periods of time.
“And, inevitably, he's come through those periods and scored important goals for us and played exceptionally well, so it's a bit of a repetitive cycle.
“The big players have big focus, have a lot more attention and their world is far more complicated than a lot of other players, who can sort of go under that radar of pressure and intensity.
“I've got a huge understanding of how that is for Harry, a huge understanding of having played with big personalities, big players, how their world is different.
"Hopefully, that helps me to manage him and to get the best out of him, which I think over a long period of time we have done.”
Asked whether or not he trusted Dominic Calvert-Lewin to take over from Kane if need be, Southgate replied: “Harry I’m sure is going to be playing well for us and will have a big impact for us. I am not worried about that.
“Are we pleased to have Dominic in our squad? Absolutely. He’s a very good centre-forward and he had a big impact for us in the autumn. It’s good that we have him and Marcus (Rashford) who can play as nines in the team.
“I think they understand in terms of their challenge with Harry – and obviously Marcus can play wide as well – who our best number nine is and the scoring pedigree and the importance to the team of Harry’s status and his role for us.”
