Bissouma says he is Premier League’s best midfielder amid Man Utd and Liverpool links

Thomas Tuchel had expected Harry Kane to sign for Manchester City before the transfer window closed, but thought it “good” that the striker would stay at Tottenham.

Blues boss Tuchel said late last season he would appreciate the chance to work with Kane as speculation over the England captain’s future roared.

Kane opted to stay with Spurs after it emerged the prolific forward is on his way to Premier League champions City, while Chelsea broke their transfer record to bring Romelu Lukaku back.

Chelsea travel to Tottenham for a London derby on Sunday and, ahead of the game, Tuchel explained how he never pushed for Kane’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.

When asked how far the European Champions had gone to take a step for the player, the Chelsea boss replied: “I have never had a list with his name on and I have never been to Marina [Granovskaia, Chelsea director] to tell him to buy it.

“But I think the club settled the situations. There are a lot of people around the players; there are agents and advisers and people in between, so we got information from these people, but it wasn’t was never so close that we had to experience the rivalry.

“We know the rivalry, but I have a feeling it was never this far.”

Tuchel says he wouldn’t have been worried if Kane had ended up joining City, as Chelsea don’t fear any of their Premier League rivals.

“I thought it was gonna happen [Kane joining City] and I wasn’t scared, but if it had happened I would have been very interested in how it might have changed City’s playstyle, “said the German.

“We are not afraid of anyone; we accept any other team. Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, these are the teams with strong and strong rosters and these are the guys. [such as Kane] you want to compete and it’s normal that they are fighting for the best players.

“I thought it was going to happen. On the one hand, I was glad he stayed because it’s good that there is in football that players play for one club.

“I have absolutely nothing to do with Tottenham obviously, but if you think of Tottenham, you think of Harry Kane, if you think of [Lionel] Messi, you immediately think of Barcelona.

“It’s very difficult for him to play for another club and it’s the same with Harry Kane. On that side, I like that and part of my personality is still a fan, so from that moment I like it and I also think it’s good that Romelu is back at Chelsea. Some things are going well and should not be changed. ”