Harry Kane latest: what will it take to get the Man City transfer over the line?

Another day, another twist in the Harry Kane transfer saga.

Following Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the England striker has been included in the club’s Europa Conference League squad to face Pacos de Ferreira on Thursday.

Kane was omitted from the Spurs roster for the defeat to City, following continued speculation that the champions are willing to pay a British transfer record to secure the attacker’s services, eclipsing the £100m they paid for Jack Grealish earlier this window.

But for now, it seems Kane will continue training with his Tottenham team-mates ahead of the first-leg play-off game on Thursday, although should he feature against the Portuguese club, the 28-year-old will still be permitted to play for City in the Champions League, if he were to move.

What are the latest reports?

On Sunday night, the Telegraph claimed Kane is ‘hoping that Manchester City will finally push ahead with a fresh British-record bid to try to sign him this week’.

However, the outlet also claimed both clubs remain some way off in their valuations for the player. City are willing to pay £120m plus add-ons, but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy views Kane as closer to £160m.

It is also reported that City must push for a breakthrough this week, in order for Tottenham to have time to sign a replacement striker before the deadline on 31st August.

What has Guardiola said?

The City coach was asked about his attacking options after the loss to Spurs, and insisted the champions do not need to add a centre-forward this window.

“We had the same people last season,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. “Sergio [Aguero] is gone. Unfortunately, last season we could not use him much, he played just seven games and in came Jack [Grealish]. So we are the same people that won the Premier League.

“It was the same people last season and we scored lots of goals, we were so stable. We are good enough to create chances and score a goal. We are going to do it.”

What has Nuno said?

Unsurprisingly, Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo was also asked about the transfer saga on Sunday evening.

“We have our squad, we have our Spurs players,” the former Wolverhampton Wanderers coach told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We have to commit them but we have to know that 31st August is sometimes not in your hands. All the managers in the Premier League have the same feeling that I have – trying to finish the window and settle down.

“Harry is [training] with us, he worked on Sunday morning and he’s getting ready to help the team. We don’t expect [something to happen before the transfer deadline but] we have to be ready to act if necessary because until the 31st anything can happen in football.”

He expanded on this during his post-match press conference, saying: “Harry Kane is one of the best players in the world. We are very lucky to have him. He has to get ready and help the team.

“Harry came back to us later, like some others. He worked on Sunday morning and he is preparing himself. When he is ready he will join the group and help the team.”

What do we think will happen?

It’s so difficult to predict how the saga will play out. On one hand, Kane seems adamant to leave and City are willing to pay a British-record fee for him.

There also seem to be few reports on any alternative options should the move fail to materialise, suggesting City are confident of a deal happening.

Yet, Spurs really don’t have much time to source a replacement should Kane depart, and all the noise from the club implies their main man isn’t leaving this window. Should Levy hold out for £160m, this deal simply won’t happen.

It may be the Tottenham chairman is trying to squeeze every last penny from City, and with the player so clearly wanting to move on, this transfer might just get over the line.