Harry Kane has announced he will stay at Tottenham this summer after a move to Manchester City failed to materialise.
Kane, who has three years left on his Spurs deal, had asked to leave the club this summer in search of silverware, but appears to have softened his stance following a long summer of negotiations between City and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
In a post on Twitter, Kane said: “It was incredible to see the reception from the Spurs fans on Sunday and to read some of the messages of support I’ve had in the last few weeks.
“I will be staying at Tottenham this summer and will be 100 per cent focused on helping the team achieve success.”
Kane, who has been a target for City all summer, came off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Wolves in the Premier League in his first appearance since returning late for pre-season.
The England captain, though, remains adamant he was always scheduled to come back later than his team-mates after Euro 2020.
Spurs value Kane at upwards of £120m, but were keen to keep the striker despite him believing he had a gentleman’s agreement with Levy to leave the club this summer.
City made an offer worth £100m for Kane at the start of June, but were unable to come close to an agreement with Spurs.
‘It’s finished, Harry’s going to be with us’
New Spurs head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted by Kane’s announcement as he addressed the media ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off second leg tie against Pacos de Ferreira, saying: “Great news. Fantastic news for everybody.
“I think since Harry joined us, he’s been working, so this is what we value. His attitude in training sessions has been great.
“It’s finished, Harry’s going to be with us. He worked today and he’s an option for tomorrow. It’s fantastic news for everybody.
“We are all very happy. He’s one of the best players in the world so we are delighted to have one more option to the season ahead of us.”
‘This draws a line under the saga’
Sky Sports News’ Paul Gilmour:
“Harry Kane held positive talks with Fabio Paratici ahead of announcing his intention to stay at Tottenham this summer.
“Daniel Levy maintained all along he would not sell on the cheap to a Premier League rival for a player with three years left on his contract.
“It left Kane and Man City slowly facing the realisation that any move would not be easy.
“Developments today draw the line under it for all parties this summer and Kane’s love for the club will ensure there is no chance of him being unprofessional.
“It’s a dramatic shift in the mood after sources at Tottenham expressed their disappointment with Kane when he did not appear at the training ground on August 2.”
‘Spurs refused to negotiate with City’
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol:
“Harry Kane is staying at Spurs because they point blank refused to negotiate with Manchester City this summer.
“It is no secret City wanted to sign Kane and the player wanted to move to City.
“The move did not happen because Spurs were not willing to sell when he has three years left on his contract.
“Sky Sports News understands City never found out what Tottenham’s asking price was because Spurs would not negotiate.
“City are relaxed about the situation and are very happy with the business they have done this summer.
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol says Kane’s long-term future at Tottenham still remains unclear
“They have a stronger squad than last season after signing Jack Grealish for a record £100m.
“Historically, City have not paid over the odds for players who have wanted to join them – for example Harry Maguire, Fred, Jorginho and Alexis Sanchez.
“City rarely make last-minute moves in the transfer market. If something becomes available they may look at it.
“Regarding reports linking City with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sky Sports News understands he is not a player whose profile currently fits their strategy or plans.
“It cannot be ruled out 100 per cent though because this is the window and if a crazy deal was put in front of City then it is something they could potentially look at.
“Liam Delap and Cole Palmer will now get more chances to play.”
Why didn’t Kane negotiate a release clause?
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:
“Tottenham sent a strong message on Sunday by playing Harry Kane from the bench, which they have every right to do. When they did that they were almost saying: ‘he is staying at Tottenham’. As if there was a deal to be done you could not risk Kane getting injured.
“For Harry Kane to behave how he has done, he must have believed there was something in that ‘gentleman’s agreement’ for him to be allowed to go.
“But Spurs have seen it in a different way. It’s not written down on paper.
“I have spoken to agents and one thing keeps coming up: the contract that Kane signed. No one forced him to sign a six-year contract.
“There was no release clause in that contract. Agents are surprised Kane signed that contract without a clause and without any written assurances about moving on if things went wrong.”
‘Everyone can move on now’
Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge:
“This is the clarity that we all wanted, even Manchester City. Both clubs can move on now, Harry Kane can move on.
“With only six days until the end of the window, it would not have been long enough for Spurs to get a replacement. A bid never went in which was acceptable from Manchester City for Daniel Levy to ever consider.
“Tottenham fans accepted from May that it was probably time for Harry Kane to move on – there was no debate about that. What they didn’t really accept was the way things were going on.
“The conversations about what days returning to training, where is he on holiday, PCR tests, what Manchester City bid, how much is he worth. Those were the things Spurs started to question.
“Then, he’s back into training, we were told time and time again that Harry Kane would respect Spurs, the new head coach, and he would be integrated into that first team. He did that. He was on the bench against Wolves and came off the bench.
“At the end of the game, getting that reaction from the Spurs supporters – ‘he’s one of our own’ – that would have meant the world to him. He’s been there since he was a little boy.
“Tottenham fans know that he’s a phenomenal striker and he has not won anything, and it hurts him and Tottenham fans. It’s time for Harry Kane to knuckle down and move on.
“Spurs play [Thursday] night in the Europa Conference League, I did not think he was going to play but I think he will now because he needs to build up his match fitness. He is going to get the most brilliant ovation.”
But what about January and beyond?
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:
“January is always a very difficult month to do deals. This time next summer could be a possibility. He’d have two years left on his deal – how much will he be worth then? Tottenham will have every right to say he’s staying then too.”
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol:
“In the short-term, it’s great news for Spurs fans but in the long-term, I’m not sure what will happen to him. Is he going to spend the rest of his career at Spurs? Is he going to sign a new contract? Or will we have this situation again in every transfer window?”
City’s in-house No 9 options
Ferran Torres
Torres arrived from Valencia in 2020 as a winger, but has slowly adapted to a role up front with City. Now the Spain international looks likely to have first refusal on the central role under Guardiola if the club do not bring in a late recruit.
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports this week he believes Torres can fill that attacking spearhead role if required.
Gabriel Jesus
The Brazil striker would in the past have been the more obvious man to fill the number nine role, but has spent a sizeable amount of time on the flanks in recent times. Brazil have deployed Jesus on the wing, and Guardiola and the man himself both appear happy to continue that trend in City blue.
Liam Delap
Guardiola has already disappointed a host of suitors by confirming 18-year-old striker Delap will not go on loan this term. Former Stoke midfielder Rory’s son, Delap junior has a fine goalscoring pedigree from youth and U23 football and will spend the season in and around the City first-team set-up.
Credit: Sky Sports
