Guardiola reiterates Kane interest and says Silva wants to leave
Manchester City will have to accept defeat in their pursuit of Harry Kane if Tottenham do not wish to negotiate, so says Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola insists the ball is in Tottenham's court with regards to Manchester City's potential move for Harry Kane.
City's interest in Kane is clear, with the Premier League champions determined to sign the England captain – they had an offer understood to be in the region of £100million turned down during the European Championships.
Kane skips Spurs training
Kane, too, is eager to make the switch from north London to Manchester, with Spurs' talisman having failed to report to pre-season training earlier this week in an apparent attempt to force through a move.
Reports suggest Tottenham will refuse to do business, however, insisting their talisman is not to sale to a Premier League competitor.
City have already smashed the British transfer record to sign Jack Grealish, whose £100m move from Aston Villa was confirmed on Thursday, but Guardiola says Tottenham will ultimately make the decision on Kane's future.
"Of course we are interested"
"He's a player for Tottenham Hotspur. If Tottenham don't want to negotiate, it's finished," Guardiola, who also dismissed any possibility of a move for free agent Lionel Messi, told a news conference ahead of the Community Shield clash with FA Cup holders Leicester City.
"If they are open to negotiating, I think not just Man City but many clubs in the world want to try to sign him – we are not an exception – but it depends on Tottenham.
"It's different from Jack. Jack had a release clause. Harry Kane is an exceptional, extraordinary striker, no doubts about that. Of course we are interested, but he is a Tottenham player and if they don't want to negotiate there is nothing more to say. If they want to, we will try."
Ironically, City's first Premier League outing sees them travel to Tottenham on August 15.
It is not just incomings that City have to consider as the new season gets underway, though, with the champions also needing to manage some players who wish to try their hand elsewhere.
City players want to leave
Several players have been linked with moves away, and Guardiola confirmed as such, though named only Bernardo Silva as a player who definitely wants to leave.
"Not just Bernardo, there are two, three or four players that want to leave but they are our players under contract and when they bring some offer and their agents come here and they want to leave we are open to discuss absolutely everything, but it depends on them," he added.
"Otherwise, they will continue training really well, they will stay here and I will decide if they play or don't play.
"The players, for what happened in the previous seasons, who want to leave know the door is open because we don't want anyone here unsatisfied. But they have to bring [an offer from a club]. Otherwise, they will stay here."
Atlético Madrid linked with Silva
LaLiga champions Atlético Madrid have been touted as a possible destination for Portugal playmaker Silva, who joined City from Monaco in 2017.