Harry Kane: Bayern Munich chief sets record straight over transfer talk; puts faith in ‘best talent in Europe’

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has denied making any contact with Harry Kane and believes the Bundesliga champions are well stocked in attack.

Bayern were expected to hunt down a proven goalscorer after Robert Lewandowski became unhappy in Bavaria. The Poland frontman made it clear at the end of the season that he was seriously contemplating leaving.

The 34-year-old had one year remaining on his contract, but he wanted out of the German club and Barcelona had dangled a carrot in fron of him.

The prolific striker arrived in Barcelona in July for €45m with a possible €5m in add-ons. Leaving Bayern to find his replacement.

Sadio Mane had already been recruited from Liverpool, but instead of going for proven goals, Bayern took a different route.

Salihamidzic oversaw a €28.5m deal for talented Rennes teenager Mathys Tel. At just 17 Bayern are well aware he is far from the finished article, but after his introduction to Ligue 1 last season, Bayern have high hopes for the player.

Already he is off the mark for Bayern. He has two goals in four games, including a goal against Stuttgart this weekend that makes him the club’s youngest Bundesliga scorer, aged 17 years and 136 days old.

Kane no-go

There is no doubting Tel’s potential. But Bayern were tipped to make a move for England talisman Kane.

Spurs boss Antonio Conte has told the club Kane is integral to what he is planning in north London. Still talk of a concerted effort from Bayern to land the 29-year-old emerged.

Bild reported that Bayern had made enquiries about Kane. And boss Julian Nagelsmann spoke openly about Kane while in the US this summer.

Nagelsmann said: “He’s very expensive that’s the problem – but brilliant player, one of two or three who can play as a centre forward [as well as a] No 10, but he’s very strong, brilliant with [his] head and both feet.

“He could score a lot in the Bundesliga, I don’t know the price, but it’s really tough for Bayern Munich. We’ll see what happens in the future.”

Salihamidzic though has set the record straight and said no approach was ever made to Kane.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone at Harry Kane’s camp,” Salihamidzic told Sport1.

‘The best talent in Europe’

“We have faith in our players. Serge [Gnabry], Sadio [Mane], [Eric Maxim] Choupu-Moting and also [Mathys] Tel. These are guys who should grow into it. We have eight players for four positions. In the end you have to see what the market has to offer and we didn’t find anyone is better than what was already in our squad.”

Salihamidzic believes Tel can become an iconic figure at the club: “He’s 17, but he has qualities that not many in the world have. He has the potential to be great. He’s the best talent in Europe at this position.”

Whether or not Bayern’s approach will pay dividends in the short term is unclear. They are the league’s top scorers with 19 goals from six games, but have Union Berlin and Freiburg ahead of them in the table.

They have also relied on Thomas Muller, 32, to lead the line this season, with Lewandowski gone.

The Germany veteran has scored once in nine games do far this season. And whether he can help fill the 50-goal void left by Lewandowski remains to be seen.