Harry Kane missed pre-season training on Monday and Tuesday; Tottenham understood to be "disappointed"; Kane told Spurs in May he wanted to leave this summer; Manchester City made £100m bid for England captain in June
Tuesday 3 August 2021 18:54, UK
Harry Kane has failed to show up at Tottenham's training ground for the second day in a row, but is expected to return this weekend.
The 28-year-old was due to return to Hotspur Way on Monday following a short holiday as speculation around his future gathers pace.
But Kane did not report for pre-season training and was also absent on Tuesday morning.
It is understood Tottenham are "disappointed" with Kane's actions and are set to fine him, but are aware the England captain is planning to return this weekend.
Sky Sports News exclusively reported in May Kane had told Spurs he wanted to leave this summer with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea interested.
At the end of June, Manchester City made a £100m bid for last season's Premier League Golden Boot winner.
Kane is valued at upwards of £120m and Tottenham are keen to keep him despite the striker believing he has a gentleman's agreement with Daniel Levy.
Levy, who has appointed Juventus' former football officer Fabio Paratici as the club's new managing director of football, said in June he sympathises with Kane's frustrations about the lack of silverware at Spurs, but hinted a deal could be difficult to do.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, meanwhile, said after last season's Champions League final the club will be "competitive and aggressive" this summer, and are aiming to strengthen by bringing "quality to the squad in a couple of key positions".
Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill:
"It's been another eventful day in this extraordinary story. We were counting in the cars and the players as they arrived for a training session. When we saw there was no Harry Kane, we thought he was on strike for a second day. We had confirmation around 11am that he wasn't going to turn up at training for a second day in a row. But we were told then that this is a protest that won't last too long.
"He wants to make clear that he feels frustrated that he was given a verbal agreement that he could be sold and would be sold if the right offer came in. The club aren't commenting on his belief that that is the case. To show his frustration towards a word being gone back on, he is going to strike again for the rest of this week.
"Tottenham play Chelsea on Wednesday night, then we can expect him to strike again on Thursday and Friday but then turn up for training as normal this weekend. There will be fines meted out on that basis."
"That will depend on your position from within the club. Certainly if you're chairman Daniel Levy, there will be frustration and anger I'm sure. For Nuno Espirito Santo and his players, there will be relief at the news that he will return at the weekend. He may not be the captain but he's the talisman and he's certainly their best player, the academy-boy-made-good and the England captain.
"It's not a great look to young players looking to one day be Harry Kane and it doesn't send a good message to them but we know how strongly he feels about the situation. There will be relief at him coming back but will seven days then be enough to get him ready for the Super Sunday clash on the opening weekend, ironically against Manchester City?
"It's a tough ask when he's been away for four weeks. Will he want to play anyway given the scenario and would he mentally be in the right state to play?"
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano believes this week will be key in determining Kane's future at Tottenham, with Manchester City ready to make their move.
He told Sky Sports News' Transfer Talk show on Monday: "I expect some complicated weeks ahead, because the situation is really, really tense.
"I think this week everything will be clear. Tottenham need to take a position, and Manchester City are ready if their position changes.
"This week will be key to understand what will happen."
You can follow all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms, as well as keeping track of all the developments on Sky Sports News.
Football's Cult Heroes is a brand new podcast series exploring the stories of the players that carried their clubs on their backs - on and off the pitch.
Told by the players, fans and journalists that were there - we delve into why these players created such a strong bond with their fans and how they are still remembered years on.
Out now, the story of Tottenham cult hero Jurgen Klinsmann.
Follow on Spotify so you can listen to the weekly episodes as soon as they drop.
