Danny Murphy was stunned to hear Nuno Espirito Santo at his first Spurs press conference play down speculation surrounding the future of Harry Kane, speaking to talkSPORT (19 July, 10.30am).
Considering the former Wolves boss is just a few weeks into his new job, Nuno was never likely to stray from the party line and go rogue this early.
He may share a Portuguese passport with Jose Mourinho – but that’s where the similarities end.
And, when the inevitable questions arose, Nuno did his best to bat away reports suggesting Kane is desperate to leave his boyhood club in favour of a fresh start at a direct Premier League rival.
“Harry is our player, period. No need to talk about anything else,” Nuno told Football London.
“Now is the moment for Harry to rest and prepare for what’s coming. And I’m looking forward to him joining the group and (we can) start working together.”
It’s no secret the England international would jump at the chance to join Pep Guardiola’s trophy-hoarding Manchester City side, however. The Athletic reports that interest could intensify now Euro 2020 is over.
And Murphy has been left wondering whether Nuno has fully grasped the seriousness of the situation Tottenham Hotspur face with about five weeks of the transfer window remaining.
Will Spurs lose Kane to Man City this summer?
“I was really baffled (by Nuno’s claims). It’s like he’s forgotten what Kane’s said!” the former England international, who played for Tottenham during the 2006/07 season, stated.
“(If I was Nuno) I would say: ‘I haven’t spoken to Kane yet. I know he wants to leave – I need to have a chat and we’ll see where we go from there.’
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“He’s brushing it under the carpet for now. I suppose it’s keeping the peace.
“Whatever Nuno says or doesn’t say, (the situation) has to be dealt with. Kane still wants to leave and it will take an astronomical amount to get him out. I don’t know how it’s going to happen because of Daniel (Levy’s) stubbornness.
“He’s going to have to knock the door down and I don’t know if that’s in him. He’s desperate to go.”
The Telegraph believes Levy will demand a British-record fee of about £150 million for Kane, who has three years left on his contract.
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