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Report: Man City prepared to cool interest in summer deal for target Guardiola called ‘incredible’

Man City are willing to wait until 2022 to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, according to .

Pep Guardiola is working with Director of Football Txiki Begiristain to sign a striker this summer after Sergio Aguero’s departure. But there is confidence in the ranks at the Etihad Stadium that Man City can cope without a new arrival.

Man City, plus Manchester United and Chelsea, have registered their interest in a deal for Kane with Tottenham. But the Citizens accept they will struggle to secure his services as Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy is demanding £150m.

Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Levy is determined to hold out for a high figure as Kane still has three years to run on his contract at Tottenham. The England striker does not expect to sort his future soon, either, and is fully focused on Euro 2020.

Man City have previous for delaying plans to strengthen a certain position for 12-months under Guardiola. They targeted a new central midfielder in 2018 and a centre-half in 2019, but added new faces in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The Citizens may repeat that stance with Kane, as club figures feel Tottenham will be under more pressure to sell next year. Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland would also be considered when his in 2022.

Man City take bold stance with Tottenham and Kane

Man City would take a bold stance by cooling their interest in a deal with Tottenham for Kane this summer. They would also not be the only side able to capitalise on Levy facing increased pressure to sell the striker next year.

It allows the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea time to forge ahead with negotiations. Guardiola would surely rue leaving the door open for one of those to swoop, having previously lauded the ‘incredible’ Kane, via .

But not signing a striker and strengthening in 2022 could have a sizable impact on the Citizens’ efforts in 2021/22. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was their in the Premier League last term with 13 goals.

The German also played fewer minutes (2,031) than Gabriel Jesus (2,060), who was Man City’s top-scoring striker with nine goals. A tally less than half of that struck by Kane (23), who has scored in every season since 2013/14.