HARRY KANE has broken his silence just hours after Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declared a public interest in signing the Spurs star.
Kane has taken to his social media and claims he would ‘never refuse to train’, with the England forward saying he will ‘return to training’ with Tottenham on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and PSG are reportedly eyeing a swoop for free agent Lionel Messi.
The Argentine superstar left Barcelona after contract talks with the Catalan giants broken down over La Liga Fair Play rules – and the French giants are reportedly in the driving seat.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS
Lionel Messi has been offered a two-year deal by Paris Saint-Germain and is set to sign for the French giants, according to reports.
The PSG squad are said to be ‘convinced’ the 34-year-old will join them this summer, while manager Mauricio Pochettino says the club are ‘working on several options’.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have announced the £47million signing of Argentine defender Cristian Romero from Italian side Atalanta.
His arrival may persuade Harry Kane to stay, with the striker claiming he ‘never’ refused to train and will return to the club ‘as planned’ today.
The England captain reportedly wants to leave Spurs this summer in a bid to win the first major honour of his career.
And Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he is ‘very interested’ in signing Kane.
The Spaniard has already lured Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish to the Etihad for a British record transfer fee.
Elsewhere, Arsenal outcast Lucas Torreira is believed to be in talks with Lazio after spending last season on loan at Atletico Madrid.
And the Gunners appear to be out of the bidding war for Ruben Neves with Granit Xhaka set to sign a new contract.
PRIDE PARK – EXCLUSIVE
Ex-Manchester United star Tom Lawrence knows his late mum Deborah will look down proudly as he leads Derby out as captain on Saturday.
The attacking midfielder has been handed the armband for the season by boss Wayne Rooney.
It raised eyebrows in some sections of the Rams’ support, but it could well be an inspired piece of management from the United legend.
Click here to read Justin Allen’s exclusive interview with Tom Lawrence
BOURNEMOUTH 2 WEST BROM 2
Callum Robinson’s 67th-minute goal earned West Brom a point as they twice came from behind in a breathless Championship opener.
The Baggies ace crashed home a half volley to add to Dara O’Shea’s first leveller after 33 minutes.
Click here to read Justin Allen’s match report
NEVES LATEST
Arsenal appear to be out of the race for Wolves star Ruben Neves as Granit Xhaka is set to sign a new deal.
Xhaka appeared close to joining Roma but it seems as if he will be staying at the Emirates after all.
According to Football London, the Gunners were lining up a bid for Neves to replace the Switzerland international in the middle of the park.
This works as a major boost for Manchester United, who are also on the lookout for a midfielder as Paul Pogba could leave.
United have also been linked with Neves during the summer transfer window.
MESSI SITUATION
Paris Saint-Germain’s squad are ‘convinced’ Lionel Messi is moving to the French capital, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Ligue 1 side are believed to have offered the 34-year-old a two-year contract, with the option of a further year.
Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma and now Messi? And all on free transfers!
That would be quite the transfer window for PSG.
‘PEAK S***HOUSERY’
Fans are convinced Jorginho is mocking England after dying his hair blond.
Manchester City star Phil Foden, 21, paid tribute to Paul Gascoigne by bleaching his hair ahead of Euro 2020 – like Gazza did at Euro 96.
The whole England squad agreed to follow suit if they went on to win the trophy.
But after making it to the final, the brave Three Lions were beaten on penalties by Italy.
And now, Jorginho may be having a little more fun than he’s letting on, after dying his hair blond too.
Immediately fans were quick to point out Jorginho may be poking fun at Foden, and England fans.
Taking to Twitter, one wrote: “Jorginho showing up with blonde hair, as a reference to Phil Foden’s plan post winning Euros, is s***housery of the highest form.”
NO MIS-PAKE – EXCLUSIVE
James McPake is on the shortlist for the vacant MK Dons job.
The League One side are on the hunt to replace Russell Martin, who took over at Swansea City.
SunSport understands MK Dons are keen to bring in a young manager and Dundee boss McPake, 37, fits the bill.
McPake has impressed in Scotland, having led The Dark Blues into the Premier League from the Championship through the play-offs in May.
BREAKING – PSG CLOSE IN ON MESSI
Lionel Messi has been offered a two-year deal by Paris Saint-Germain and is set to sign for the French giants, according to reports.
More to follow…
CAD YOU BELIEVE IT?!
Spanish side Cadiz needed four players to lift a piece of silverware after they defeated Atletico Madrid to win a pre-season tournament.
The LaLiga club claimed The Ramon de Carranza trophy with a 4-2 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Atletico in normal time.
Click here to read more
CRIS OF LIFE
Tottenham have announced the signing of Argentine defender Cristian Romero from Italian side Atalanta.
The 23-year-old joins the Lilywhites for a fee of £47million ahead of the club’s first season with new boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Spurs were in need of a central defender following the departure of Belgian Toby Alderweireld.
Romero only officially became an Atalanta player this summer having been on loan from Juventus last season.
But he was swiftly moved on to North London before even playing one game as a permanent player.
He was named ‘Best Defender’ at the Serie A end of season awards following a superb campaign with the Italian side.
KEEP IT GREAL
Aston Villa’s CEO has revealed the reason behind allowing Jack Grealish to join Manchester City for a Premier League record fee.
Speaking on Twitter, Christian Purslow said: “Jack wanted to be certain that if at any point a Champions League club came in for him and Aston Villa was not in that competition, that we would not stand in his way.
“For that reason, we agreed to incorporate a so-called release clause into his contract.
“Our board set this clause at a value of £100million, knowing that would be, by some way, a record price for a British footballer and also a record fee for any player bought by a Premier League club.
“Put another way, we set the value at a level we hoped would not be met, but which would reflect his truly unique value to Aston Villa.”
A MOVE FOR MESSI?
Manchester United have contacted Lionel Messi’s representatives about a potential move, according to journalist Duncan Castles.
It’s believed the deal would be worth approximately €50MILLION to the Argentina captain.
However, United officials understand that they are currently behind Paris Saint-Germain in the pecking order to sign Messi.
The French club are reportedly able to present a contract of around €75m over two years.
POCH WATCH
Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino insists his club are ‘aware’ of Lionel Messi’s situation – but will not sell Kylian Mbappe to fund a deal to sign the Argentine.
Speaking in a press conference, Poch said: “I have not spoken with [Messi]. And [any move] would not mean that Kylian would leave.
“A player of Messi’s calibre, that is what is interesting to me. The club are working on several options, but we must focus on the game with Troyes [on Saturday].
“We know about what happened yesterday.
“The club is working on the transfer window and on the elements that could come in to improve the team and allow us to achieve our goals.”
CUTI COUP
Sticking with Spurs, the club have just confirmed the signing of Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero from Atalanta.
Known as ‘Cuti,’ the 23-year-old joins the North London club on a five-year contract for a fee of around £50m.
Named as ‘Best Defender’ in the Serie A last season, he helped Atalanta to third-place finish in the league, and went on to make his debut for the Argentina national team.
KANE TO STAY AT SPURS?
Following Harry Kane’s statement, the odds of him remaining a Tottenham Hotspur player beyond the 2021 transfer window have shortened slightly.
While the striker refuses to go into the ‘specifics of the situation,’ his words appear to be a source of comfort to anxious Spurs fans, worried about their star’s possible departure.
Betfair now have Kane at 4/6 to remain at Tottenham while Manchester City are listed at 23/20 to sign the England captain.
HARRY’S PAIN
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has taken to social media to issue a statement regarding comments over his professionalism that have left him hurt.
While speculation continues regarding his future, Kane insists that he will be returning to Spurs tomorrow as planned, and that he would never do anything to jeopardise his relationship with the supporters that have always backed him.
TEN TO TEMPT MESSI
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has reportedly offered his number ten shirt to Lionel Messi in order to tempt his former Barcelona teammate into joining him at the Parc des Princes, according to French news outlet RMC Sport.
Both players have become synonymous with the number ten jersey during their illustrious careers, but only one will be able to wear it if they were to again end up on the same side.
A MESSI ENDING
Barcelona have now confirmed that Lionel Messi has officially left the club after contract negotiations ended.
Which airport will he be spotted at first?
NO COUTINHO PAYDAY FOR REDS
Barcelona’s perilous finances have been making recent headlines, and now the Spanish giants are banking on an aspect of Phillipe Coutinho’s failed transfer.
Rumours in England had suggested that the Catalans would owe Liverpool another £20m for when the Brazilian reached 100 games for the La Liga club, but Barcelona are now insistent that is not the case.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo have been running the story after manager Ronald Koeman admitted that Coutinho – currently on 90 Barcelona appearances – would be part of his plans if financially viable.
PEP TALKS
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he is ‘very interested’ in signing Harry Kane.
But the Spaniard has warned Tottenham that if they are not prepared to negotiate, the deal is ‘finished’.
Kane is desperate for a move to the Etihad after telling Spurs he wants to leave to win trophies.
But chairman Daniel Levy is thought to value the England captain around £160m, with City unlikely to reach that target.
They have of course just shelled out £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
Speaking about the possibility of bringing in another £100m+ man, Guardiola said: “Harry Kane is an exceptionally talented striker and of course, we’re very interested.
“But if Tottenham don’t want to sell… Of course, we’ll try.”
CITY OFFER
The City Football Group have made their move for Lionel Messi, according to French outlet le 10 sport.
The report suggests the 34-year-old has been offered a three year deal, with two of them to be spent in Manchester with City, and the final year to be at New York City.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is thought to want to spend a couple more years playing at the top level before retiring in the USA, and that contract certainly appeals to his wishes.
PSG are still thought to be the frontrunners for his signature though.
THAT’S ALL
That’s all from Joan Laporta as he leaves the stage.
He made it clear that Messi wanted to stay at Barcelona, the club did all they could and so did Messi, but financial constraints mean it can’t happen.
Laporta blames the disastrous losses from the previous presidency that have left the club in serious debt, with 95% of the club’s income going on the player’s salaries.
It means the club could be in a position at the end of the season that sees them lose over £400million.
Laporta didn’t say where Messi would be going when quizzed by reporters, but he did say he is the best player in the world so he has offers from the best clubs in the world.
BIG LOSSES
Joan Laporta claims that Barcelona’s losses by the end of the season could be in excess of £400m!
WOW!
LAPORTA LATEST
“We even shook hands [him and Messi] but the contract didn’t fit in the regulations.
“And we reached the agreement that it couldn’t be.”
ON PSG INTEREST
When asked who he wants to see Messi move to and where he’s moving to, Laporta says:
“I would like to see him play at Barca but whatever he does is up to him.
“You’ll have to ask him.
“I don’t know but it’s always been said that they have options [for Messi].”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
