Harry Kane refuses to show up for training in attempt to force sale to Manchester City

Harry Kane has triggered the nuclear option. According to multiple reports including Dan Kilpatrick in the Standard and Charlie Eccleshare in The Athletic, Kane failed to report to training today, his first day back after an extended break for the EURO 2020 competition, in an attempt to force a sale to Manchester City.

Kane and his agent-slash-brother Charlie have both been very clear about Harry’s desire to leave Tottenham this summer, and this move appears to be the latest in a series of ham-fisted and amateurish attempts to control the narrative surrounding a potential sale. Other attempts included Harry Kane giving an interview with Gary Neville on a golf course, and leaked comments from Charlie’s wedding in The Sun that suggested that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had agreed to let him go.

But this? Kane has now officially gone to the “jerk mattress” over this move, and it’s ridiculous. Kane has three years remaining on a six year contract, and City have already made a £100m bid for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, casting doubts that they would even make another approach for Kane this summer. Kane has now probably irreversibly damaged his reputation among Spurs fans, and it’s hard not to look at this move as striking a match and setting fire to the first support pillar of the bridge away from Spurs.

For what it’s worth, Tottenham’s outward-facing reply has always been consistent: Harry Kane is not for sale. Internally, there have been numerous suggestions that they would be open to a sale, if Manchester City meets Tottenham’s asking price, said to be around £150m. Thus far, City haven’t even come close to that.

I don’t know what Harry thinks he’s doing here. If the price is the price, and if he really wants to join an oil-drenched megaclub this summer, then he needs to wait for City to make a move, not try and force one out of a perceived “gentleman’s agreement” with Levy.

As for Spurs, the price IS the price, and if City don’t pay it, then Levy should go tell them to pound sand. For what it’s worth, I’m at the point now where I hope City do hit the price, as I’m angry enough that I think I just want the money now.

And meanwhile? Kane should take a look at what Jack Grealish is doing, another beloved academy product at another club who is a target for City, and perhaps re-evaluate Grealish’s strategy. And also fire his brother.