James Maddison would love Harry Kane to stay at Tottenham but insists ongoing speculation around the forward has not distracted his new team-mates.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs era began with the signing of Maddison on June 28 for £40million from Leicester City.
Five weeks on and the elephant in the room remains Kane’s future. Bayern Munich is focused on bringing the England international to Germany and is likely to lodge another bid for the 30-year-old.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy met with Bayern officials in London on Monday. The club’s recent Asia-Pacific tour occurred amid constant talk of Kane’s future. A BILD journalist unveiling a Bayern shirt with ‘Kane 9’ on the back to Postecoglou during a media session.
But Maddison, speaking at the TNT Sports start of the season event in London, said: “It hasn’t been a distraction. Harry is professional.
“Everyone knows what Harry Kane is like. He’s a super professional guy and whatever club he is at, whenever he walks into training he gives 100 per percent. It’s the same as all the lads so not (a distraction) at all really.
“We were friends before I joined Tottenham from the England squad. We have similar interests and get on well with each other away from football.
“I hope that Harry Kane decides to remain at the club, as I believe he is one of the best strikers globally. However, whatever happens, happens, and Harry conducts himself with utmost professionalism.”
As the future of Kane remains uncertain, Tottenham is actively intensifying their efforts in acquiring new defenders for manager Postecoglou.
Talks with Spurs and Wolfsburg are advancing over Micky van de Ven’s transfer, the PA news agency understands.
Postecoglou gave the green light to Van de Ven’s signing soon after arriving in June and dialogue between the teams started last month.
No final agreement over a fee – expected to be £30m – has been reached. However, there is growing confidence the Netherlands Under-21 international will make the move before Spurs’ Premier League opener at Brentford on August 13.
Liverpool have expressed interest in Van de Ven, who made 36 appearances for Wolfsburg in 2022-23. He expressed his desire to play in England in an interview with De Telegraaf.
“I have always dreamed of the Premier League because the biggest clubs play there and I also see that competition as the most prestigious in the world,” Van de Ven said in June.
Tottenham also remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the signature of centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, who alongside Van de Ven has been high on the club’s list of potential targets this summer.
