Spurs ‘will have to buckle’ if Harry Kane retains Bayern interest, says Uli Hoeness

Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, is confident the German champions will buy Harry Kane this summer after saying the Tottenham striker has signalled he wants the move.

Bayern have made two unsuccessful bids, the most recent of just over £68m last Sunday, but Hoeness said they had not been able to get the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, to name a price. Levy has made Kane a huge contract offer to extend his deal beyond next June.

“Harry Kane has clearly signalled in all conversations that his decision stands – and if it stays, then we’ll get him, because then Tottenham will have to buckle,” Hoeness told Sport1, a German broadcaster.

He said Tottenham’s failure to qualify for Europe – Bayern will participate in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season – had strengthened his club’s hand in pursuit of Kane. “He wants to play internationally and luckily for us Tottenham will not be active internationally next year. He now has another opportunity to come to a top club in Europe. What we all like: 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 admitted discussions with Levy, renowned as a tough negotiator, had not been straightforward. “Levy is clever, he doesn’t name a number,” he said. “First we have to get him to name a number. Of course he plays for time. I think he’s a savvy, super professional, I appreciate him a lot.” But Hoeness noted there was plenty of negotiating experience on Bayern’s side too.

Kane has travelled with Spurs to Australia for a pre-season tour. The goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was allowed to stay behind to find a new club.