Bayern Munich have split their executive resources in a clear signal of intent to land both Harry Kane and Kyle Walker before the start of the season.
The Bundesliga champions face Manchester City in Tokyo on Wednesday and the two clubs are in contact over a deal for Walker.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer and Michael Diederich, the chief financial officer, are holding those talks, with Pep Guardiola revealing that City are doing all they can to keep hold of the 33-year-old.
Those who have remained back in Germany - chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen and technical director Marco Neppe – are focusing primarily on Kane.
Tottenham owner Joe Lewis has told Daniel Levy to sell the England captain – who is valued at around £100million - if he refuses to sign a new deal at the club.
Bayern are favourites to sign the 29-year-old – and are also Walker’s most viable option if he decides to turn down a contract offer and call time on his City career following last season’s historic Treble.
Guardiola insisted that he fully intends for Walker to feature in the friendly against the team attempting to sign him but admitted he is in the dark over the defender’s future.
‘Yes of course, he’s still our player,’ Guardiola said. ‘He’s our player. We need to play against Bayern with our best players and we hope he’ll stay with us for the whole season. Why shouldn’t he play?’
‘Kyle is incredibly important for us. He has specific qualities that are so difficult to find out wide. Both clubs are in touch. We will fight for him like I’m sure Bayern will. I don’t know how it will finish.’
City’s players are desperate for Walker, one of Guardiola’s leadership group, to remain. Another with suitors, Bernardo Silva, has already been told he must stay by his team-mates during the parade celebrations last month.
Ruben Dias does not want the camaraderie further broken up after Ilkay Gundogan’s departure and revealed that new signing Mateo Kovacic has noticed an improved atmosphere on his time at Chelsea.
‘One of my first conversations with Mateo, he said it's amazing how well we all get along,’ Dias said. ‘His first impression shows what happens inside. I guess that friendly environment between us helps us when the time comes to be together.
‘You've said two names (Walker and Silva), other names have gone this season and last. It's unfortunate because of how good we are together.
‘It's not like any other profession when things may be stable. We need to adapt, let's see what happens. The two names are two very important players, if they stay they'll continue to be important.’
Guardiola also has puzzles to sort on his own bench, with a sparse backroom staff out in Asia. Last year’s No 2 Enzo Maresca secured the top job at Leicester City while long-time coach Rodolfo Borrell has taken up a sporting director role at Austin in MLS.
Guardiola is understood to want former assistant Juanma Lillo back. Lillo, considered Guardiola’s tactical mentor as a younger coach, has been in Qatar with Al Sadd but left them earlier in the month.
Guardiola did, however, hint at the prospect of a payment required to Lillo’s former employers if he is to re-join.
‘He's in Qatar, under contract,’ Guardiola said, despite Lillo leaving more than a fortnight ago. ‘I have a list of 10 people. They are all expensive! I'm joking. I have a few people in mind but I cannot say more.
‘I don't know what happens with my assistants, I take care of them really well and all the time they drop me! If you want to come to my bench I have a space now.’