Harry Kane may have missed his chance for a move to Manchester City, according to Rio Ferdinand, who believes Pep Guardiola's men will now favour a move for Erling Haaland over the Tottenham and England striker.
Pep Guardiola's men are actively searching to reinforce their central striker options this summer, with Sergio Aguero out of contract in June and competition needed for Gabriel Jesus.
Kane, 27, has been one of the names linked with a move to City, but reports last month suggested Spurs would demand at least £150million for their star forward.
And speaking to BT Sport ahead of City's Champions League last-16 second leg against Borussia Moenchengladbach, Ferdinand insisted he would have been the main candidate to fill the role a couple of years ago.
But the former Manchester United defender now believes Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old forward Haaland represents the more sensible option for the long term.
'I think a season or two ago Harry Kane would have been the first choice for them because he can play that No 10 role and he can come deep and become part of the midfield and create extra numbers in there,' Ferdinand said.
'I think now the age may be a concern and the actual price tag he is going to come with.
'When you have got people like Haaland it is a different proposition in terms of longevity to build around for a number of years.'
Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week that City are leading both Chelsea and Real Madrid in the chase for the Norway striker, who has a £90m buyout clause in his Dortmund contract.
Former City and England defender Joleon Lescott also believes Haaland would represent an astute signing, and would bringing a certain required selfishness to the role.
'Haaland is any type of player,' Lescott added. 'He looks like someone who has that mentality of wanting to score more than necessarily wanting to win.
'You need that selfish mindset sometimes, so he is definitely someone I'd be looking at.'
Former Man United and City midfielder Owen Hargreaves however believes the club should instead target a move for Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
The Argentine is out of contract at the Camp Nou in the summer and Hargreaves believes he would be the ideal option to play as a false nine in their current system, which has been played at times this season by Ilkay Gundogan.
'The way they play now I think Messi is the perfect one for that false nine, could you imagine him in there with all those goals and assists?'
barcaisinmydna
394
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kiobetyz
315
If not of the price tag on Kane, I think he is more preferable than haaland... 1. He is 27 and at the peak of his career 2. He still has abt 5yrs of playing well, assuming he starts declining at 33yrs like most strikers 3. He has PL experience and has proven himself 4. it will be demoralizing to Jesus to see a 20yr old who has never played in PL to just come in and take the #9 spot but if Jesus is benched cuss of Kane he will know Kane is better than him 5. Haaland is still to prove himself in PL and we know it's a very tough league 6. Kane is an English man and clubs always complain city is full of foreign players 7. Kane has a very good link up play and can drop deep to take the ball forward... I watched Dortmund and Haaland and I think Kane's link up is better than Haaland 8. Kane is also a very good passer of the ball, by far better than Haaland This is my view. thank you
josephjayjay
282
Jose Mourinho: and who tell you that we want to sell Harry Kane 👀
the_truth_is_here
85
lol is this even a question kane is still 27 ..buy kane can play for 6 more years ..kane is already experience with epl kane averages 30+ goals per season in epl already a world class striker even took wordlcup golden boot and 2 epl golden boot...and kane is not just a goal poacher he drops back and also creates.. him and de brune in the same team will be something else...they should go for kane then after 2 season go for young substitute striker.. halaand will need time to adapt to experienced level but kane will give them the ucl the next season
tamcdkmst
8
This is what will happen Chelsea will sign Haaland nobody else. Reasons? 1. Messi will continue to flirt with Manchester city giving the high hopes by dragging to sign his contract with Barcelona and Manchester city will buy into his conundrums but in the end Messi will sign for Barcelona and by the time Manchester city try Haaland he'll be at Stamford bridge 2. No offence to Manchester United and Real Madrid but the only club that'll qualify to buy Halaand and pay his agent Mino Raiola millions he's demanding is Chelsea fc nobody else. ofcourse with an exception of Manchester city and PSG. Coronavirus Pandemic damage is too much on Real Madrid and Manchester United. 3. Chelsea has got youngest expensive squad in the world so I'm sure Haaland will be flattered. 4. Roman Abramovich!!! What Roman Abramovich wants He gets
You can buy Haaland on FIFA 21 for Chelsea because that's the only way you'll see him in a Chelsea shirt 😂😂