Man City and Real Madrid battle for £150m Harry Kane transfer as Man Utd accept defeat

Posted Sunday, April 05, 2020 by Express.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United have accepted they are unlikely to be able to sign Harry Kane, leaving rivals Manchester City and Real Madrid to scrap it out for the Tottenham marksman.

England captain Harry Kane is at the centre of a £150million tug of war between Real Madrid and Manchester City. Kane has refused to rule out leaving Tottenham unless they start winning trophies and it has even been suggested that he could be sold to fund a squad overhaul.

Kane said last week in an Instagram Live with Jamie Redknapp: "It's one of those things, I couldn't say yes, I couldn't say no. I love Spurs, I'll always love Spurs.

"But it's one of those things - I've always said if I don't feel we're progressing as a team or going in the right direction, then I'm not someone to just stay there for the sake of it.

"I'm an ambitious player, I want to improve, I want to get better, I want to become one of the top, top players.

"It all depends on what happens as a team and how we progress as a team. So it's not a definite I'm going to stay there forever - but it's not a no either."

Man City and Real Madrid battle for £150m Harry Kane as Man Utd accept defeat - EXCLUSIVE (Image: GETTY)

And Kane's honest comments have made some of the biggest clubs in European sit up and take notice and re-examine at their recruitment plans for the summer.

Although Manchester United are long-time admirers of Kane, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward accepts the chances of getting him to Old Trafford are remote.

Premier League champions City are keen to straighten their squad this summer, and a new striker could be on their shopping list.

Pep Guardiola is facing losing Brazilian international Gabriel Jesus to Italian giants Juventus, who have made him one of the leading transfer targets.

Meanwhile Real are keen to make more changes to their squad this summer and have looked to see which strikers could be available.

And Kane is a striker that they have been paying close attention to since he finished as the Premier League’s top scorer four years ago.

Writing about Kane's future this week, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher warned the frontman - who has 136 Premier League goals in just 201 top-flight appearanes - against joining United.

He wrote for the Daily Telegraph: "Kane turns 27 in July. We have no idea when the next transfer window will open or when next season will start.

"If Kane does not leave soon, the situation gets trickier for him.

"When players hit 28, psychologically it makes a big difference to clubs. They see them as nearer 30, recognise there is no resale value.

Man City and Real Madrid battle for £150m Harry Kane as Man Utd accept defeat - EXCLUSIVE (Image: GETTY)

"Manchester United's need for a top-class No 9 is urgent and they might see Kane as the ideal fit, but they will apply the same logic if the fee is upwards of £150m.

"From Kane's perspective, is United's situation better than Spurs's over the past five years? There is a four-point gap in the Premier League but United remain in transition.

"It would be a gamble for Kane to go to Old Trafford given there is no strong evidence United will be ready to challenge for the Premier League soon.

"Even if Kane was 21 or 22, although it would be a no-brainer for all the top clubs to pursue him, it would be difficult to make a deal happen soon."

Man City and Real Madrid battle for £150m Harry Kane as Man Utd accept defeat - EXCLUSIVE (Image: GETTY)

Kane, who also boasts 32 goals in 45 England caps, has struck 17 times in just 25 games for the north London club this season with injuries having disrupted his campaign.

Discussing the hamstring problem that has kept him out since January on Instagram, he said: "So far things are going great. I was doing my rehab well at Spurs up until last week. Now just continuing that here [at home].

"I'm at a stage where I'm pretty much nearly back at full training. Whenever we go back, whether that's in a couple of weeks or one month or two, I'll be able to integrate with the group and just see how I feel.

"There's no rush or panic. I'm in a good place, a good space. Now it's just using this time to heal even more.

"With all injuries there's always a stage when you feel ready to go back but if you can give it a bit more time it helps. I'll just take things as it comes whenever we're back."