Harry Kane will not be part of Tottenham Hotspur’s match selection for the home game against Manchester City on Sunday. The 28-year-old striker is strongly linked to a transfer to the champion of England, but various English media report he is not considered fit enough for a place in the selection. Partly because of this, Steven Bergwijn has a basic place and the Dutchman forms the front line with Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura. Nathan Ake is also at the kick-off at Manchester City.
There has been a lot going on around Kane in recent weeks. The Tottenham captain stayed away from the first training session where he was expected this season two weeks ago. He finally returned to the training field for the first time a week ago, after enjoying an extended holiday after the European Championship. He himself called it ‘planned’. “While I don’t want to go into the details of the situation, I want to make it clear that I have never refused to train and never will,” Kane said in a statement.
Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said on Monday that he was counting on Kane’s availability against Manchester City. “All the players in the squad will be available next weekend, and it’s up to us to decide who will play,” said the Portuguese. Nuno came back to this on Saturday, however, by stating that he takes many factors into account when putting together his selection. In doing so, he seemed to suggest that the transfer rumors surrounding Kane played a role.
Manchester City are still emphatically after Kane. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano assured on Thursday afternoon that the reigning champion of England is working behind the scenes with a new offer of 150 million euros, after a bid of 117 million euros had previously been refused. Kane currently has a contract with Tottenham that runs until mid-2024.
“He has to work on his fitness. He has to keep working until he is ready to help the team. I don’t think he will need too many sessions anymore. He has to be fit,” Nuno said before the game against Manchester City. The Tottenham manager was then asked if Kane would be in the stadium. “He worked this morning, I don’t know what he’s doing now.”
Tottenham Hotspur line-up: Lloris; Reguilon, Dier, Sanchez, Tanganga; Skipp, Hojbjerg; Lucas, Dele Alli, Bergwijn, Son.
Manchester City line-up: Ederson, Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Ake, Mendy; Gundogan, Fernandinho, Grealish; Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Sterling.