England captain has been linked with world-record summer transfer to Old Trafford
Monday 13 April 2020 12:04, UK
Tottenham have no intention of selling Harry Kane to Manchester United or any other Premier League rival, Sky Sports News has been told.
Recent reports have suggested Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is willing to sanction Kane's departure to United for a world-record fee of £200m because of financial worries during the coronavirus crisis.
Spurs' stadium cost around £1bn and the pandemic is set to have grave financial repercussions on all Premier League clubs, with Tottenham moving early to furlough some non-playing staff.
Reports have also claimed Kane would be open to a move to United, but Sky Sports News has been told the England captain will not be leaving for Old Trafford or any other Premier League rival.
Kane, who has been out injured since January with a hamstring problem, has openly spoken about his frustration at so far failing to win trophies with Tottenham - and says he is prepared to leave if the team does not progress.
The 26-year-old is recovering from a hamstring injury but opened up to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp about his ambitions during an Instagram chat last month.
Asked whether he would be at Tottenham for the rest of his career, Kane underlined his intent to be one of the world's best players and said he would not stick with Spurs if he did not feel he could achieve what he wants to at the club.
"It's one of those things, I couldn't say yes, I couldn't say no. I love Spurs, I'll always love Spurs. But it's one of those things - I've always said if I don't feel we're progressing as a team or going in the right direction, then I'm not someone to just stay there for the sake of it," he told Redknapp.
"I'm an ambitious player, I want to improve, I want to get better, I want to become one of the top, top players.
"It all depends on what happens as a team and how we progress as a team. So it's not a definite I'm going to stay there forever - but it's not a no either."
Tottenham lost a Champions League final and a League Cup final under former boss Mauricio Pochettino and Kane said the failure to land silverware has been tough to take - especially given the quality in Spurs' squad over recent seasons.
However, he is optimistic that could change, given the track record of new boss Jose Mourinho.
"We've been saying that for a couple of years now, we have got a fantastic team but for one reason or another we haven't been able to get the trophies that, when you look from the outside, we've got the team to get," said Kane.
"It's a hard thing to take as a player. I want to win at everything I do so when we're coming close and you don't quite get there it's hard to take and starts to build up.
"But from my point of view, and the team's point of view, all you can do is do everything you can, give your best to win every game, to win trophies. For one reason or another, we haven't quite got there yet.
"Next year, the gaffer now, it'll be his first chance to really have a pre-season with the team and embed his values into the team and we'll see what happens. Of course, I want to win, I want to win team trophies, I want to be doing it sooner rather than later. So we will have to see how it goes."
Speaking on The Football Show, Jamie Redknapp said Kane will want to see Spurs challenging for silverware, otherwise he may look elsewhere...
"Golden Boots are great and he loves the fact that he's got a lot of individual accolades but he will want to win trophies with his team.
"If he doesn't feel like they are progressing the way that he wants - he wouldn't push for a move or do anything that's too desperate - but he would want to explore other avenues. It's all right having an amazing stadium and a good fanbase, but he will want to see Tottenham challenging for big trophies."
Also speaking on The Football Show, Gary Neville said Kane would fit the bill for Manchester United...
"For Manchester United, it would be a perfect signing. It fits Manchester United's historical transfers, going back to Brian Robson, Roy Keane, trying to sign Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney.
"They were the best or most famous English, British or Irish players in the Premier League and Manchester United tried to sign that player so it does fit with that. Just look at what Manchester United did last summer with Harry Maguire, who was one of the best players on the mark.
