Man City emphatically answered Harry Kane transfer question raised at last Tottenham meeting

There was more interest in the executive boxes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the first day of the season, as the boardroom back-and-forth between Spurs and Manchester City in the preceding weeks provided more drama than the action on the pitch.

City had made Spurs talisman Harry Kane their top transfer target over the summer after the England captain strongly hinted at his desire to leave the club and win trophies. However, even after Kane stayed away from Tottenham's pre-season training to try and force through a move, he had to back down and admit defeat when Daniel Levy simply wouldn't negotiate with City.

After his lack of preparations for the opening day visit of City, there was no meeting between Kane and the club who tried so hard to sign him on the pitch and he stayed away from the stadium, perhaps wisely. The director's box seemed to have a camera permanently fixated on it, and Heung-min Son's only goal was a sideshow in the narrative as City started the season with defeat.

Post-match, all the focus was on whether City could go the season without a striker, and whether they should have offered more for Kane. There was also talk of whether Spurs could reintegrate Kane and get the best out of him after his public declarations to leave.

Now, 24 Premier League games later, and City have their answer. So do Tottenham.

In all competitions, City have played 38 games this season and have registered a ridiculous 98 goals - 61 coming in the Premier League. Considering they have played all of those games without a recognised striker - not counting six outings for Ferran Torres or the recent return of Liam Delap - it's remarkable that City have been so prolific.

Manchester City have started their campaign strongly,