Manchester City remain hopeful of signing Harry Kane this summer, though they expect talks with Tottenham Hotspur to go all the way to the final day of the transfer window, according to a report.
The Premier League champions have identified the 28-year-old striker as their primary target and are keen to complete a deal before the 11pm deadline on August 31.
Kane has expressed his desire to leave the club this summer with Pep Guardiola's side believed to be his preferred destination, however Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is under no pressure to sell their star man, who has three years remaining on his contract.
Levy is understood to have rejected City's £100m bid, which guaranteed only £75m up front, earlier in the transfer window and is refusing to lower his £150m valuation of the England captain.
According to EPSN, City are anticipating that talks to sign Kane will go right to the wire, as did previous deals involving former Tottenham players Dimitar Berbatov and Gareth Bale.
These previous transfer sagas have given the Citizens hope that a deal can be completed late in the window, though they will likely need to improve their offer if they are to land the striker.
In addition, Guardiola's players are confident that Kane will soon leave his boyhood club after 21 years in North London, and arrive at the Etihad Stadium this summer.