Pep Guardiola reveals Tottenham rejected FOUR bids for Harry Kane last summer when Manchester City were unwilling to meet their £150million asking price… and it left him fearing the worst about their season
- Manchester City had four bids for Tottenham’s Harry Kane rejected last summer
- Pep Guardiola’s side are still looking to bring in a striker to replace Sergio Aguero
- But Guardiola has been pleased with City’s collective effort upfront this season
Pep Guardiola has revealed Tottenham rejected four Manchester City attempts to land Harry Kane last summer and admitted he feared for his side’s season as a result.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy remained steadfast in wanting to keep Kane, despite the England captain’s desire to move, with City refusing to pay the £150million asking price.
The saga was only brought to a close once the season had already started and days before the transfer window shut.
Pep Guardiola revealed Manchester City had four bids for Harry Kane rejected last summer
The Premier League champions are nine points clear of second-placed Liverpool but their boss had reservations after failing to replace Sergio Aguero.
‘Now you can say, “Harry Kane didn’t come and everything is going well” but at the time I didn’t know it,’ said Guardiola. ‘We tried but Tottenham were clear that it was not going to happen.
‘When that happens two, three, four times, it’s over.
‘After that we saw the squad and we were not sure. We then lost at Spurs and against Leicester in the Community Shield.
‘I never was disappointed in what the club cannot do in the transfer market. I’ve never created a fire here. When we have some talks and we cannot agree, we do it internally.’
Guardiola is still eager to bring in a striker ahead of next season as City look to strengthen
City come up against Kane on Saturday for the first time since their pursuit and Guardiola is wary of Spurs, expecting a backlash given Antonio Conte’s side have lost their last three matches.
Guardiola still wants to sign a striker, with the club battling to convince Erling Haaland to choose the North West over Spain if he leaves Borussia Dortmund this summer.
If they cannot, River Plate forward Julian Alvarez — signed in January and who is linking up with the squad for pre-season — could become a first-team regular.
City are battling to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland but face strong competition
‘The club is always working, it never stops,’ Guardiola added. ‘If five players say they want to leave, we have to be ready.
‘Julian scored three goals in the last game for River Plate and Man City made an incredible deal because he is a player who moves really well, the goals he scores are like Jamie Vardy’s. We’ll see what happens in the future.’
For now, City are competing with a collective effort in front of goal, with three players — Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva — having already hit double figures.
‘With the players we have we have to adapt,’ Guardiola explained. ‘Raheem’s goals are a consequence of his confidence. I am very glad that he is back to his best.’
City’s appeal against Kyle Walker’s three-match Champions League ban has failed. Walker was sent off for a wild swipe at RB Leipzig’s Andre Silva in their final group game. He served the first game of the ban in City’s last-16 first-leg win over Sporting Lisbon.