Kane put Morata off Spurs, claims Pochettino

LONDON: New Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur because he feared the competition from striker Harry Kane, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has claimed.

Morata, 24, joined champions Chelsea from Real Madrid last month for a reported fee of £58 million (RM329 million).

Pochettino spoke to Morata about a move to Spurs two years ago and said the Spain international was deterred by the presence of the prolific Kane at White Hart Lane.

“Morata talked about myself, in the media he said: ‘Mauricio called me.’ That was two years ago or more,” Pochettino said, in comments published by several British newspapers yesterday.

“He said to me: ‘Why do you want me if you have Harry Kane?’”

Unlike their Premier League title rivals, Spurs are yet to make a significant close-season signing and the new campaign is just over a week away.

Spurs have mounted stirring title challenges in both of the past two campaigns and Pochettino said the strength of his first XI was deterring potential new recruits.

“You know, if you go to try to sign a striker, they will say: ‘Eh gaffer, you want me for what? To be on the bench?’ I can’t compete with Harry Kane or Hugo Lloris or different players,’” he said.

“It’s so difficult to convince good players to come and then be on the bench. Then the problems start.”

He, however, reiterated his belief that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would strengthen the squad but said Tottenham could not go toe-to-toe with the rich sides of Manchester.

“The problem is so clear,” he said. “We are not a club today that can compete with Manchester United and City for a player. We cannot fight. We are in a different way.

“But the thing is Daniel is very keen to sign like me. These type of player we are talking about they are not easy to find.” Agencies