Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown believes that a deal to bring Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane to the Etihad Stadium is "imminent."
The former City man, who played for the club between 1995 and 1999, made the admission after Kane was left out of Spurs' travelling squad that made the trip to Portugal for Thursday evening's shock 1-0 defeat to Pacos de Ferreira in the first-leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier.
It is believed that the England captain, who remains a top target for City ahead of the transfer window closing in less than a fortnight's time, was left out of the squad for the second game running because he has not yet regained full fitness after returning to pre-season much later than everyone else in the Spurs squad.
Despite that, Brown is convinced that a deal between City and Spurs to bring Kane to the Etihad Stadium is close, insisting that an end to this saga needs to be reached as soon as possible.
Brown, speaking ahead of Spurs' defeat last night, told Sky Sports : "He has not travelled again. So, ultimately, is there a deal on the table?
"For him not to go and play tonight or play any part... I expected him to have a couple of minutes or be with the squad, but he hasn't. So that tells me that I think a deal is imminent.
"Everybody needs to resolve this - it has been a long drama now."
Despite City's continued pursuit of Kane, Spurs are refusing to throw the towel in on their efforts to keep hold of their star asset, despite the striker's eagerness to leave the club.
Spurs are poised to demand well over £150million to even consider selling last season's Premier League Golden Boot winner and Brown knows just how difficult it could be to negotiate a deal with chairman Daniel Levy.
"I have dealt with him on a few occasions, Daniel Levy, and I always got on with him very, very well," Brown added.
"Yes, he has a hard bargain. He seems to do well with this football club and that is what you have got to understand with Daniel Levy; he is a hard bargain, he is very, very shrewd and he is the best in the business at what he does.
"But, ultimately, he has got his football club's concerns first. I think it is extremely distracting, the player wants to go, so for me, with my players' hat on, the player needs to be in a good place, needs to play football, get a fair dealing and hopefully he can move on.
"We all want to see Harry Kane and we wish him well. I am sure the Spurs supporters, if this deal goes through, will also do that."
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