Harry Kane is set to face Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since he missed this fixture last season as he tried to force through a move to Pep Guardiola's side.
Spurs played host to City on the opening weekend of the 2021/22 Premier League season, just five weeks after Kane's England lost the Euro 2020 final. As fellow Three Lions stars Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling lined-up for City, Kane was absent from the Tottenham squad amid strong rumours over a move away.
But Spurs did not need Kane on the day as Son Heung-min's individual strike proved to be the difference as the reigning champions started with defeat. Many thought that was further indication that City needed to bring in an out and out No.9 before the summer transfer window closed.
Reports at the time claimed that three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Kane had a 'gentleman's agreement' with Spurs that they would allow him to leave, but Daniel Levy was adamant he would go nowhere. the 29-year-old refused to turn up to training and ended up missing Spurs' first game against City.
That led to further reports coming out that City would accelerate their interest in Kane, who was said to be available for a staggering £150million, as Guardiola tried to bring in a striker. Plus, Kane's desire to leave Tottenham would have been another deciding factor for City to make an offer, but Levy stayed reluctant.
The Tottenham owner stood firm and decided to keep Kane at the club, especially considering he had just under three years' left on his contract. This was despite the supposed gentlemen's agreement, however, which left Roy Keane furious. The ex-Manchester United midfielder was adamant Kane should forget about it and carry on with his football, after he missed training in the build-up to Spurs' opening encounter.
"Unless it’s written in a contract, forget about it (the gentleman’s agreement). It’s bizarre," said the former Republic of Ireland international back in August 2021.
Meanwhile, Ian Wright admitted it was naive of Kane to not have a release clause inserted in his contract at Spurs and added if he was sold then it will surely be for more than the new British record set by City with their recent purchase of Jack Grealish, who made the £100m switch from Aston Villa.
"I cannot understand how Harry Kane goes into a contract with no clause. I don’t know, something's been lost in translation.
"With the way it's going and wanting to leave, Grealish’s move was seamless. Obviously this hasn’t happened for Tottenham yet, there’s no clause, Tottenham have every right. We’re talking about Harry Kane here. We’ve seen Grealish go for £100m, without European experience, Harry Kane has all that so how much is he worth? We will have to see how it moves on."
After his record-breaking move to City fell through, Kane reiterated his desire to leave to the Tottenham hierarchy as he felt he was being hung out to dry by the club he has spent the last 16 years at. According to The Sun, Kane felt as if his current club did not do enough to shield him from the criticism that came his way from many quarters over the course of the summer of 2021.
Now, 18 months later, ahead of Sunday's clash in north London, Guardiola spoke about Kane and his current striker, Erling Haaland, who is leading the Golden Boot race on 25 goals this term. That is nine more than Tottenham's Kane. The Spaniard also refused to suggest that Kane is "not a good player" because he hasn't won a title yet.
He said in his pre match press conference: "I'm extremely happy with Erling. Of course, Tottenham are happy with Kane. What an exceptional player. The numbers he has done, more than the goals but the quality.
"They didn't win a title so he's not a good player? He has proved the statistics isn't in the titles. He remains one of the best strikers I have seen in my life. Are managers bad if they don't win titles? Tottenham are happy to have him, we're happy with Erling who can give us many years."
