Tottenham Hotspur and England Captain Harry Kane failed to report to Tottenham’s preseason training on Monday and Tuesday. His move is aimed at putting pressure on his club to allow his move to join Manchester City this summer.
Reports from two weeks ago suggested that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy agreed to sell Kane to the Premier League team for an English record fee of $220 million. Those rumors have since been denied by both City and Tottenham. Spurs are firmly convinced Kane will play for the club next season, despite the prominent striker asking to leave in his pursuit of trophies.
Kane expected to return to training on Saturday
Kane had a few extra weeks of summer break after playing the Euro 2020 final with England on July 11. He was supposed to return to training on July 2.
According to Sky Sports, the 28-year-old “understood verbally that he was going to be allowed to leave” Tottenham. His absence from preseason preparations is his way of protesting, and to make a clear statement to the club’s hierarchy. Kane won’t train on Wednesday either when Tottenham plays a friendly against London rivals Chelsea, and he’s not expected to be involved in day-to-day preparations until the weekend.
Tottenham kicks off its Premier League season on Aug. 15 against none other than Manchester City.
Guardiola not giving up on Kane
Transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday morning that the situation between Tottenham’s board and Kane is tense. Tottenham is on the verge of signing defender Cristian Romero for $60 million from Atalanta, but Kane is still their main concern. The striker’s entourage claims Kane was promised in 2020 that he’ll be allowed to leave this year, a vow which isn’t valid anymore. Chairman Levy denies such a promise was ever made.
According to The Athletic, Manchester City is willing to offer up to $180 million to sign Kane, but everything depends on the signals sent by Tottenham.
City hasn’t given up on the idea of signing Kane. The champions didn’t move on the market for any striker after Sergio Aguero (33) left at the end of his contract to join FC Barcelona. Manager Pep Guardiola is a keen admirer of Kane’s and made his transfer a top priority at City in 2021.
Over his 415 games at Tottenham, Kane scored 248 goals and assisted another 63. In the England shirt, the striker scored 38 times and assisted 13 goals in just 61 games. Kane is at +100 to stay at Tottenham, with a transfer to Manchester City currently at -138.