Everton’s Sean Dyche makes ‘generous’ Harry Kane admission ahead of Tottenham clash

Everton boss Sean Dyche says he came close to signing Harry Kane when he was Burnley boss only for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to pull the plug on the deal.

Kane is regarded by many as the Premier League’s best striker and has only recently turned into England’s record goal-scorer having bagged his 55th goal against Ukraine in the just ended international break.

Despite all the chaos at Tottenham, Kane has been the shining light again this season with 23 goals in all competitions ahead of the visit to Goodison on Monday night.

Sean Dyche who has taken on the fire-fighter’s job at Everton and hoping to guide them out of the relegation fight admits he’s a big fan of striker Kane and came close to signing him at Burnley, when he was just cutting his teeth.

He told reporters ahead of Monday night’s game: “We spoke about trying to sign him for Burnley and the money was too much and all that kind of stuff.

“I saw him on holiday by chance actually, with his family, struck up a rapport with him, just chatting with him and his family about life and football and all that sort of stuff. Nothing heavy.

“I have then seen him at various functions, he’s been very generous with getting me some shirts as I back a few charities and stuff. He’s been generous.

“You just get a feel for people, forget about footballers, just for people, and he’s a top fella, in my opinion, the way he conducts himself and goes about it.”

Asked to expantiate on his Harry Kane pursuit, Dyche revealed it was at the time when he was being sent out on loan and not now that he’s smashing records left, right and centre.

Dyche added: “There was a reason, by the way, I don’t think it was when he got 20 goals a season because it wasn’t then.

“It was when he’d been on loan at Norwich and Leicester and it hadn’t quite gone as well. I just knew his background from the lads at Millwall, you see, because of my connection at Millwall and they all loved him.

“A fantastic, top young pro. I think he was only 18, and you know Millwall is a tough place to go and play when you are younger. He handled it fantastically.

“I had always had him in the background of my mind. I just wondered after he had had a couple of soft loans whether they were ready to do something.”

Tottenham will have Cristian Stellini, who has stayed behind to help the team secure Champions League football following the sacking of Antonio Conte earlier in the week.