If only former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy heeded the advice of David Pleat.
In the latest episode of the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Pleat revealed how he implored Levy to ask for two highly talented Manchester City products in return for Harry Kane, who had been heavily linked with a switch to the Premier League giants in 2021.
However, City opted not to sign Kane due to the costs involved and instead triggered Jack Grealish’s £100million release clause to prise him away from Aston Villa.
Pleat lifts lid on how he told Levy to nab City youngsters
As Pleat recalled, ‘that was the end of Harry Kane going to them,’ not that there were any genuine conversations between the clubs over a move for the England international.
“According to Daniel, they never picked up the phone,” Pleat said.
“It was all paper talk, that £150million. They were waiting, they were playing a game as most managers do.
“I told Daniel at the time, ‘If you get whatever you think he’s worth or you eventually agree, make sure you get two players from Manchester City from their academy, [Liam] Delap and [Cole] Palmer.’
“I did say that.”
As history would have it, Kane eventually got his move away from Tottenham in August 2023 as he joined Bayern Munich for £87m.
Palmer and Delap become stars in their own right
For Palmer and Delap, who were unproven at Premier League level when Kane was linked with City, they remain teammates but at Chelsea.
Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge on deadline day in 2023 for £42.5m while Delap joined last summer from Ipswich Town in a £30m deal.
The switch to Chelsea has proved especially fruitful for Palmer, who has transformed into one of the world’s elite attacking midfielders.
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Since he joined the Blues, Palmer has tallied an impressive 45 goals and 29 assists across 101 appearances in all competitions.
Palmer can also call himself a world champion having inspired Chelsea to a Club World Cup triumph last summer.
The 23-year-old’s brilliance has been recognised on an individual level too as he finished eighth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, which was the highest ranking among English players and five ahead of Kane.
As for Delap, Chelsea were convinced to swoop for him following an impressive debut campaign with the Tractor Boys where he netted 12 times in 37 games.
However, Delap’s tally was not enough to save Ipswich from relegation.
Chelsea duo’s injury struggles laid bare
Unlike Palmer, the son of Stoke City cult hero Rory Delap has struggled to find his footing at Stamford Bridge.
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That’s largely because the 23-year-old has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and has been absent for ten fixtures.
However, Blues boss Enzo Maresca revealed Delap is available to make his long-awaited return for his side’s Carabao Cup tie against Wolves on Wednesday.
Sadly for the Blues, they will have to wait even longer to see the City academy products share the field once again as Palmer is set to remain out until December with a groin injury.
“We try to protect Cole as much as we can,” Maresca said last Friday.
“The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit.”