Tottenham host Manchester City in the Premier League this afternoon meaning Harry Kane will once again come up against the team he reportedly came close to joining in 2021.
The striker made his feelings known to seal a move away from north London following the 2020/21 campaign, but an agreement over his sale was never sealed. It was said that Kane and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had a 'gentlemen's agreement' to allow him to leave the club, resulting in Kane missing Spurs’ 1-0 win over City.
Tottenham stood firm in their stance of keeping hold of the forward, despite reports that the Citizens were keen to accelerate their move for Kane. Amid all the controversy involving the England international, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane called for Kane to focus on his football rather than skipping training.
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"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.
Kane returned late to training ahead of the 2021/22 season amid his unhappiness over Tottenham's decision to stop his joining Pep Guadiola's side. But he eventually returned to Nuno Espirito Santo's team and went on to score 27 goals in all competitions.
This season, under Antonio Conte, the 29-year-old looks set to better last term's tally with 18 goals already scored. Today, he will go head-to-head against title-chasing City looking to add to the two goals he netted last season.
At the other end of the pitch, Premier League top-scorer Erling Haaland will be aiming to continue his outstanding goalscoring record. The City striker has scored an astonishing 31 goals in 27 games this season and has seemed to find the adaptation to the Premier League rather easily.
However, Guardiola has claimed that Haaland could learn from studying players like Kane to improve his all-around game. "With Erling, one of the attributes that surprised me the most is how he is aware he can improve in many departments," he said.
"And I'm pretty sure maybe watching Harry Kane, but not necessarily Harry, other players too, he has the will to think, 'I can do better.' With his age, this is the best thing he can believe. Otherwise, it would be boring."
In Spurs' previous Premier League game, Kane equalled Jimmy Greaves' all-time record of 266 goals and Guardiola has heaped praise onto the player he was desperate to lure nearly two years ago.
"Harry Kane remains one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life," Guardiola added. "What an exceptional player - the numbers and, more than the goals, the quality.
"That they didn't win a title (does not mean) he is not a good player. I think he proved that."
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