Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City were rejected four times by Tottenham in their chase for Harry Kane last summer.
Kane was a prime target for the reigning Premier League champions after the England striker told Spurs of his desires to leave the club at the end of last season (Sky Sports).
But, despite the Manchester club making a number of approaches, a move failed to materialise for the 28-year-old and ultimately condemned him to a stay in north London.
Ahead of City’s fixture against Spurs this evening, Guardiola has since revealed that his side made at least four attempts to lure Kane to the Etihad Stadium, but saw each of them knocked back.
He said (via The Sun): “We tried [to sign Harry Kane] but it was far away from being done because Tottenham were clear this is not going to happen. And when that happens two, three, four times, it’s over.
“Now you can say, ‘Harry Kane didn’t come and everything is going well’ but at the time I didn’t know it. We lost to Spurs on opening day and Leicester in the Community Shield. And I don’t know what will happen in the next few weeks.”
Tottenham talisman Kane has struggled to hit form for much of the campaign and currently sits on just five league goals after 21 appearances (Transfermarkt).
Spurs Web Opinion
Man City chased Kane for much of last summer’s transfer window but Tottenham were very firm in their stance of not wanting to sell him. Far too many times before the club’s best player has been sold and Spurs were keen not to let it happen on the occasion of potentially losing the England captain. He may have struggled goals-wise this season, but it may just be a blip.
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