Manchester City are preparing a £100million ($139m) offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, sources have told ESPN.
Kane, 27, has informed Spurs of his desire to leave this summer, with City leading Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for his signature.
Sources in both City and Tottenham have ruled out a formal bid as of Monday afternoon.
But sources said City are preparing to test Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's resolve with an initial offer that could include a player-plus-cash offer.
Sources said Levy is certain to reject any bid at that stage, as Kane is worth around £150m and has three years left on his current £200,000-a-week contract.
Kane has not made a written transfer request, and sources said Levy is determined to keep him at the club for at least one more season, although the player is believed to leave this summer. He has the gentlemen's agreement.
Sources told ESPN that at least one candidate interviewed for the vacant managerial position at Spurs was told Kane would not be sold before the start of next season.
City are looking to strengthen their attack after allowing Sergio Aguero to depart after winning their third league title under Pep Guardiola in four seasons.
Sources told ESPN that the Etihad Stadium has acknowledged that it will be difficult to reward Kane from Tottenham this summer, given the importance of Spurs and his contract status.
While Guardiola is keen to add a striker to their squad, City are willing to wait a year if the right player is not available, as they signed Rodri in 2019 and Ruben Dias in 2020.
There have been reports that Raheem Sterling could be one of the players tempted to sell Kane to Tottenham this summer, but sources have told ESPN that the England winger is ready to be used as Mekwaite in any deal. is not.
Kane recently admitted that it would be a "striker's dream" to play alongside City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, but he has kept all talks on his future until the end of England's participation in Euro 2020.