LONDON: Pep Guardiola said Manchester City would not panic to buy Harry Kane at a rising price despite losing 1-0 to Tottenham in the opening match of the Premier League title defense earlier this morning.

Kane was not with the Spurs squad as he returned late for pre -season training when he tried to move to the England champions.

But Tottenham were still able to give Nuno Espirito Santo a dream start when his task began with Son Heung-min blasting home the game’s only goal in the 55th minute.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium being full for the first time in 17 months helped the decision with cheers of “did you see Harry Kane” heard at the end of the match.

Guardiola’s side are looking for a replacement for Sergio Aguero after the all -time leading scorer went to Barcelona at the end of last season.

Yet City won the title last season largely without the injured Aguero and Guardiola is confident he can put his faith in the players he already has if efforts to get Kane fail.

“Sergio is gone but we are the same team that won the Premier League last season,” Guardiola said.

“We’re good enough to seize chances and score goals, so we’ll do it.”

Son saw that his kick was slightly off target before the break which was a sign that the winning goal was about to materialize.

The South Korean has always posed a threat to City’s squad and he scored his seventh goal against the squad in the 55th minute when he passed Nathan Ake and kicked low into the corner.

Steven Bergwijn had a chance to double Spurs’ lead shortly afterwards but his shot went just wide to the side when City were again easily leaked as a result of a quick counter -attack.