Bayern Munich remain confident that England captain Harry Kane will join the Bundesliga champions this summer.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker has entered the final 12 months of his current contract and reports this week stated that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy met with Bayern officials this week over a possible sale, although any agreement remains some way off.
Kane returned for pre-season training on Wednesday and has flown out as part of the squad for Tottenham's pre-season Asia-Pacific tour, the first game of which takes place against West Ham on Tuesday in Australia.
But whether Kane remains at the club ahead of their opening game of the Premier League season, away to Brentford on August 13 remains to be seen, with Bayern thought to have bid £70 million for the attacker who is record goalscorer for both club and country.
New Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou met with Kane on Wednesday as he outlined his vision for the club – one that includes the prolific striker who scored 32 goals in all competitions last season.
But the lack of any European football next season, after the club finished eighth in the Premier League, will prove a major stumbling block in trying to persuade Kane to remain in North London for another year – or sign a new deal.
Honorary president – as well as former Bayern player and general manager – Uli Hoeness believes that the 29-year-old is keen on the move and talks between the German club and Kane's brother Charlie, who is his agent, and his father Patrick have been encouraging.
Spurs 2022/23 season ratings
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TOTTENHAM SEASON RATINGS: Antonio Conte - 5. His 16 months in charge ended in the usual acrimony that is now standard for the abrasive Italian. Blamed the board and the players for below-par performances and results but never himself. Spurs were fourth when he left in March and finished eighth, but even that feels a false position. AFP -
Cristian Stellini 2 - Asked to step into the breach when Conte was sacked, fellow Italian Stellini largely used the same personnel and implemented the same tactics that doomed Conte. The nadir was the 6-1 loss to Newcastle, in which Spurs trailed 5-0 at half time. A disastrous four games in charge. AFP -
Ryan Mason 4 - Says he wants the manager's job full-time but has shown few signs he is capable of making Spurs top-four challengers again. Would be better served cutting his teeth in the lower leagues for now. PA -
Hugo Lloris 2 - A catalogue of errors had many questioning the Frenchman's place in the team even before the horror show against Newcastle. Was replaced at half-time in that match and looks likely to have played his last game for the club. PA -
Fraser Forster 5 - Ended the season as first choice due to Lloris' awful form. Is not the long-term solution to Spurs' goalkeeper problems. Getty -
Cristian Romero 4 - A raging bull before the World Cup and a headless chicken after it. Clearly an excellent defender but needs to cut out dallying on the ball and wild challenges. EPA -
Eric Dier 5 - Like Romero, his form pre-World Cup was excellent and forced him back into England's squad. After that Dier reverted to the inconsistent form that has largely blighted his Tottenham career. EPA -
Davinson Sanchez 4 - Evidence of the disconnect between the team and fans was on full display in the defeat against Bournemouth when the Colombian was booed when coming on as a sub and again when he was replaced later in the match. Getty Images -
Clement Lenglet 3 - The Frenchman seems to lack positional awareness and is too often reactive instead of proactive. Would be a shock if Spurs tried to make his loan deal from Barcelona permanent. Getty -
Ben Davies 6 - Probably Spurs' most dependable performer in a season when the defence proved too brittle. PA -
Japhet Tanganga 2 - Made only four Premier League appearances despite Spurs having one of the worst defensive records in the top half of the Premier League. Hard to see a future for him at the club. PA -
Emerson Royal 6 - An underwhelming start to the campaign showed encouraging signs as the season progressed. Needs better end product but has the capacity to improve. AFP -
Pedro Porro 6 - Fine performances against Spurs in the Champions League prompted the North London club to sign the Spanish right-back in January. Scored a stunner in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. EPA -
Ryan Sessegnon 5 - Looks a fine player until he's asked to do something with the ball. At 23 still has plenty of time to improve and if he can work on supplying more quality into the box can be a real asset. EPA -
Ivan Perisic 6 - The veteran Croatian has the quality on the ball Sessegnon lacks. One of Spurs' better performers but at 34 hardly one for the future. PA -
Oliver Skipp 5 - An injury-plagued campaign for the young midfielder. Offers bite and tenacity. Getty Images -
Yves Bissouma 4 - Another who had a season disrupted by injury but never replicated the form he showed at Brighton in the games he did manage. Spurs fans keen to see the Malian marauder in full flow next term. PA -
Rodrigo Bentancur 5 - Spurs missed the Uruguayan's drive and quality after he was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury in February. PA -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7 - The Dane added goals and assists to his game and is a rare heartbeat in a team that flatlined too often. PA -
Pape Sarr 4 - The Senegalese's shortcomings were exposed against Arsenal and even more ruthlessly against Newcastle - which both ended in drubbings for Spurs. Getty Images -
Lucas Moura 3 - The hero of Amsterdam endured a disappointing final season in North London. Sent off against Everton minutes after coming on as a sub and a poor touch that led to Liverpool snatching a dramatic late win were the lowlights. Both results cost Spurs dear in their push for a European spot, though he did leave fans with one more memory with a solo goal in the 4-1 win against Leeds on the final day. PA -
Dejan Kulusevski 6 - A fit and firing Kulusevski gets the team up the pitch and causes problems for opposition defenders. Spurs didn't seen enough of either from the Swede this season. Getty -
Arnaut Danjuma 4 - The Dutch winger was afforded few opportunities to showcase his talents following a January loan from Villarreal. PA -
Son Heung-min 5 - Much was expected from the South Korean this term after finishing joint-top Premier League scorer the previous campaign. His highlight was a 13-minute hat-trick against Leicester after coming on as a sub. PA -
Richarlison 4 - Spurs fans questioned whether the £50 million plus to acquire the Brazilian from Everton could have been better spent. On the evidence of his first season in North London, the answer is a resounding 'yes'. Getty -
Harry Kane 9 - On a personal level, Kane enjoyed a great season. The England striker broke Jimmy Greaves' long-standing goals record for the club and Kane's 30 Premier League goals came against 25 teams - a record for a 38-game season. Seems unthinkable he will sign a new contract at Spurs and the club must decide whether to cash in on their prized asset this summer or risk losing him for nothing next. PA
“Kane has clearly signalled in all conversations that his decision stands – and if it stays, then we'll get him,” Hoeness told Sport1.
“He wants to play in Europe and luckily for us Tottenham will not be next year. He now has another opportunity to come to a top club in Europe.
“His advisers are also very pleasant in this case. Up to now, the father and the brother have always stood by what they promised. If it stays that way, that's OK.”
Hoeness – who is member of Bayern's committee overseeing this summer's recruitment alongside Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Jan-Christian Dreesen and coach Thomas Tuchel – admitted that negotiating with Spurs was not easy.
Levy, he said, is “intelligent and we first have to get him to a stage where he will figure out an amount” for the transfer.
“He is trying to buy time, he is a seasoned professional, I appreciate him a lot. But on the other hand, we weren't born yesterday.”
Bayern have just won the Bundesliga title for a 11th consecutive season after a thrilling final day of the season that saw them pip Borussia Dortmund for top spot by goal difference.
The were knocked out of the Champions League by eventual winners Manchester City in the quarter-finals.
