‘Too many ifs’ – Arteta asked whether Arsenal will buy Kane
Mikel Arteta has backed Harry Kane to make “the best decision for himself” after he was asked if Arsenal would be in for the Tottenham striker.
Sky Sports yesterday confirmed that Kane has told Spurs that he wants to leave in the summer with the England international keen to remain in the Premier League.
Another report in The Athletic reckons Tottenham will still do everything they can to keep Kane in north London despite the striker believing ‘he has a gentleman’s agreement with [Daniel] Levy’ from last summer.
Mediawatch special: Harry Kane and the ‘vulnerable’ Levy
Manchester United have been linked with a part-exchange deal for two of their players in an effort to land Kane, while Manchester City and Chelsea have also been heavily linked, although any transfer to another London side seems unlikely.
But that didn’t stop one journalist asking Arteta if Spurs’ arch-rivals Arsenal will try to buy Kane this summer, to which the Spaniard replied: “I don’t know if Harry Kane is leaving Spurs. I think he is still there. I don’t know [if he’s available], there are too many ifs. If he wants to leave, he will try to make the best decision for himself, I am sure.
“I suffered him both ways; as a player and as a manager. I think English football should be so proud to have someone with his talent, quality & consistency. I think what he’s been able to do over the years in that position in this league, it’s incredible.”
Arteta on Kane: “I suffered him both ways; as a player & as a manager. I think English football should be so proud to have someone with his talent, quality & consistency. I think what he’s been able to do over the years in that position in this league, it’s incredible.” #afc
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 18, 2021
Meanwhile, Darren Bent has warned Kane over the difficulty of leaving Tottenham after he left for Sunderland in 2009.
Bent told talkSPORT: “It’s hard (to leave). It was hard for me and I was nowhere near the level Harry Kane is to Spurs.
“I’ve told the story before about being on the plane, having to get off the plane, having to wait until Spurs got back from Hong Kong before the deal with Sunderland got done.
“It was so difficult. I never found out what the piece was that was missing, which is why it took so long.
“You are talking about a guy who, if he stays there, is going to be their all-time record goalscorer. He’s one of the greatest goalscorers we’ve ever produced.
“I’ve seen Dimitar Berbatov struggle to get out. I’ve seen Robbie Keane struggle to get out. I’ve seen Luka Modric struggle. I’ve seen Gareth Bale, who was one of the best in the country at the time, have to go for a world record fee to get out of Spurs.
“If you think Kane is going to be able to leave for £100million to £120million – no chance.
“Levy is one of those owners who if they say £140million, he’s not letting him go for any less than £140million.”
