Harry Kane faces heartbreak over his dream to move to a Champions League club, with Manchester City unwilling to get drawn into a prolonged transfer saga.

The struggling England captain, who has failed to register a shot on target at the European Championship in the team’s opening two games, has insisted uncertainty over his future is not the reason behind his form.

Kane made it clear on the eve of the tournament that he wants to leave Tottenham Hotspur, and publicly identified the Etihad Stadium as a preferred destination, but it’s understood that Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, is now determined to keep hold of his talisman.

Pep Guardiola. the City manager, is looking for a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero and would welcome the addition of Kane. However, it is also understood that City are reluctant to fight until the final days of the summer transfer window to strike a deal.

Levy has negotiated club-record fees with Real Madrid for Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, with both deals eventually sealed on the final week of the window after lengthy summer discussions.

While there has been talk of a gentlemen’s agreement between player and club for him to leave this summer, there is nothing in writing to force Levy to sell and he is determined to keep the 27-year-old striker.

Only a small number of clubs could afford Kane’s market valuation, which would be well over £100m. Manchester United have also been looking for a striker, although their immediate priority is a deal for Jadon Sancho.

City are also looking at midfielder Jack Grealish in a deal with Aston Villa that would break the Premier League transfer record.

Kane, whose form at the Euros has been poor, has urged England fans to be patient with a squad who had little time to prepare after players had their seasons extended to play in the Champions League and Europa League finals.

“The message is just to be patient, to be calm,” he said. “Obviously, we’re not going to play perfectly every game. The main thing is that we, as a group, are in a good mind space and good place. No one’s panicking here.”

England now need to beat Czech Republic on Tuesday night to qualify as group winners, although only an unlikely sequence of results would lead to Gareth Southgate’s side being eliminated from the competition.