WINNING A TUG OF WAR
Spurs confident they’ll keep Kane
TOTTENHAM believe they are winning the battle to keep Harry Kane as it emerged Manchester City’s opening bid for the striker was worth only a guaranteed £75million.
Chairman Daniel Levy has been adamant all summer that Kane is not for sale, and with just seven days left until the transfer deadline, the desire to keep the England captain has not wavered.
Indeed, the feeling inside Tottenham is that any move for Kane is virtually impossible, with Levy more determined than ever to fend off fresh advances from the Etihad.
City are expected to launch a fresh bid to land Kane this week and it remains to be seen whether meeting Spurs’ £150m valuation would suddenly alter his club’s stance.
There is a growing sense within the corridors of power at Spurs that Levy will dig his heels in over Kane, despite the player’s desire to leave for City. As it stands, there is a significant disparity between the clubs’ valuations of the player.
Indeed, Sportsmail understands
City’s well-documented £100m formal offer for Kane in June was made up of £75m in cash with an extra £25m in add-ons. As we revealed last week, sources close to Kane believe City have expressed to Tottenham that they are prepared to offer a deal worth £125m, though there has been no confirmation that a bid that size has been formally tabled.
City are faced with either turning their attentions away from Kane in the search for Sergio Aguero’s replacement, bidding above the amount they believe the Spurs striker is worth or going into the season with what they have.
Kane appears to have underlined his commitment to Spurs in recent days with two social media posts and made his first appearance of the season as a sub in Sunday’s win at Wolves. Indications now point to him spending the season at Spurs as Levy refuses to budge.
Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Adama Traore, who they hope to sign on an initial loan from Wolves before next Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.
Sportsmail reported earlier this month that Traore was on Spurs’ list of targets and, last week, that Wolves were braced for an offer.
New boss Nuno Espirito Santo is keen on a reunion with Spain winger Traore, who he worked with at Molineux.
Spurs had been prepared to pay a loan fee of £5m for Traore with an option to sign him permanently next summer. Wolves have knocked back that proposal as they want a guaranteed sale — either in this window or in any loan deal — if they are to let Traore go.
He has two years left on his contract and is valued at around £45m by Wolves, who are also open to extending his contract should he remain at Molineux.
Traore showcased his talents in the Premier League game between the two sides on Sunday, where he caused Spurs’ defence huge problems with his pace and power, though he did miss a great chance to equalise in the second half.
Nuno said after Sunday’s game, which his new side won 1-0 thanks to Dele Alli’s early penalty: ‘I think Wolves have a very good team and created us enormous problems, big big problems.
‘One of those was Adama. Everyone knows Adama is unique and he’s very hard to stop.’