Pep Guardiola has spoken publicly about Manchester City’s pursuit of Harry Kane for the first time.
City’s interest in Kane - who finished top of the Premier League goal and assist charts last season - has been an open secret for some time. The player himself is keen on the move and recently took the decision to miss Spurs training in an attempt to force through his sale.
Kane is under the impression that he has a gentleman’s agreement in place with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, but the club disagree and are reluctant to let their talisman depart. City have already made one marquee signing this summer, bringing in Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for a British record £100m, but they remain eager to add the striker to their ranks as well.
Asked about the latest on Kane’s future before his side's Community Shield meeting with Leicester on Saturday, Guardiola said (via Manchester City): “[Kane] is playing for Tottenham Hotspur. If Tottenham don’t want to negotiate, it’s finished. If they are open to negotiate, not just Man City, all the top clubs will try to sign him. It's different from Jack [Grealish] - Jack had a release clause.
“Harry Kane is an exceptional, extraordinary striker, no doubts. We are interested but he is a Tottenham player. If they don't want to sell they don't, if they want we can try.”
In order to fund their pursuit of Kane, City will likely have to sell several players. At the start of the summer, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte were among those said to be open to leaving and Guardiola confirmed that some of his squad might be willing to depart.
Asked whether Bernardo could be sold, Guardiola replied: “Of course he is our player. Not just Bernardo, there are two or three players who want to leave but they are our players and under contract.
“When agents come here we can discuss absolutely everything, otherwise they train well, in previous seasons players who want to leave know the door is open because we don't want players who are not satisfied.”
Source : 90min