Manchester United’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane is set to be met with rejection as Spurs prioritize holding on to their star player this summer. With just one year left on his contract, Tottenham faces the risk of losing their prized asset on a free transfer in 2024.
Initially, Spurs had hoped that qualifying for European competitions, particularly the UEFA Champions League, would convince the 29-year-old to commit to a new contract. However, a dip in form both before and after the departure of head coach Antonio Conte resulted in Spurs finishing eighth in the Premier League standings.
Without the allure of continental football, it appears increasingly likely that Kane will not consider signing a contract extension with the North London club. The England captain ended the season with an impressive tally of 30 goals, solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s best strikers despite the lack of silverware.
While several clubs may be willing to pay around £100m for Kane, Manchester United has been perceived as his most probable destination this summer. However, according to The Mirror, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has no intention of engaging in negotiations with the Old Trafford club, even if it means risking losing Kane for nothing in the future.
Levy is reportedly unwilling to sell to a perceived Premier League rival, despite Manchester United finishing five places above Spurs in the 2022-23 season. The report suggests that Levy would prefer to have Kane in the squad in an attempt to secure European qualification again, even if it means missing out on a potential £100m transfer fee.
Although clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been mentioned as potential options for Kane, a big-money bid may be unlikely due to the possibility of initiating pre-contract negotiations in January.
With Tottenham currently lacking a permanent head coach and sporting director, the recruitment of these positions may be influenced by Kane’s future at the club. Interim head coach Ryan Mason, who is not expected to stay in the role, has acknowledged that the Spurs hierarchy faces several “important decisions” in the short and long term.
