Tottenham Hotspur remain unmoved over the future of Harry Kane and sources say they are ‘supremely confident’ the England striker will remain with the club.
Kane’s stock could not be much higher with 20 goals this season for club and country, and many onlookers regarding him as the best striker in world football at the moment.
With that in mind, it is not surprising the world’s best are looking at Kane and Real Madrid are well on with putting ground work in to try and turn the 24-year-old’s head with their coach Zinedine Zidane singing his praises following their recent Champions League clash.
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And Kane was quick to thank Real and Zidane for the praise, saying: “It’s a great compliment and one that for me I can take as a positive and take in my stride and use it as confidence.
“For me, I will always try to keep working on stuff I never feel you can always be the best but you can keep working on things and that what I am trying to do.”
However, although Tottenham are seen as a club than can be swayed over player sales – with the likes of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Kyle Walker all sold off in recent years – Kane will not be following any time soon.
Spurs have their new White Hart Lane home in mind, they move into it next season and want a top-line squad to be leading their charge, and Kane will be leading it alongside Dele Alli.
Spurs sources have reiterated to me that Kane will not be allowed to leave and they are ‘supremely confident’ of that, and they also have not ruled out a bumper new deal to help smooth over him staying put.
Kane is very happy at Tottenham and does not want to leave, but he also knows he could more than double his wages with a move, so he would like Spurs to give him some incentive.
Likewise, Kane wants the likes of Alli and Christian Eriksen to stay put too and the club are aware that coach Maurcio Pochettino is of the same view, and they are making plans to keep the key players ‘long-term’.
Real have also denied an imminent approach with president Florentino Perez saying: “Signing Harry Kane has not passed through my head. He is a magnificent player and in addition he is young.
“He has many years before him to progress. But we are delighted with the team we have, including (Karim) Benzema.”
Asked if he had spoken to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy about Kane, Perez said: “No, because if I ask, he’ll tell me 250 million euros (£223million).”
Bookmakers still believe that Kane will be staying put, he is 1/20 to remain with Spurs after the January window and Unibet list him at 1/8 to still be with the club when they move into their new home or 4/1 to have left by that point.
We spoke with Unibet spokesman Alistair Gill who said: “With Harry Kane in the form of his, or most players, life and performing on par with Messi and Ronaldo, there is no surprise to see him linked with a move away.
“However, our traders seem quite content in the fact that a move in January is extremely unlikely, the odds on him remaining at Spurs past the winter transfer window priced at 1/20. Real Madrid, seemingly his biggest suitors, next in the market way out at 8/1.
“The sentiment remains past the summer transfer window too. With Spurs due in their new stadium next season, he is priced at 1/8 not to leave before Spurs’ game in their new arena.”