Tim Sherwood insists senior figures at Tottenham wanted to ‘ sacrifice ’ England newboy Harry Kane to bring in a foreign striker as recently as January 2014 . The Aston Villa manager said he refused to sanction any such move as head coach and instead picked the then unproven centre-forward regularly during the run-in . Sherwood said : ‘ There were people at club who wanted to bring in another striker and sacrifice Harry Kane . I wouldn ’ t allow that to happen . They know who they are . Tim Sherwood was not prepared to 'sacrifice ' Harry Kane to bring in an expensive striker last January . Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlos Sanchez were in good spirits at Bodymoor Heath . Charles N'Zogbia concentrates in training and will be hoping he guide his side away from relegation . Alan Hutton is put through his paces in training as he prepares for Villa 's clash against Swansea . Scott Sinclair has been given a new lease of life under Sherwood at Aston Villa . Harry Kane has come on significantly as a player since Tim Sherwood handed him his Spurs debut . The Tottenham striker has been in superb form , earning an England call-up with a string of impressive displays . ‘ That ’ s why they should trust the people who know football within the club and not listen to outside influences who are trying to flog them a player . ‘ If they would have brought in somebody last January and his name ended in an ‘ I ’ or an ‘ O ’ , the fans would have been very excited , but I ’ m not sure he would have given them the same output as Harry Kane has given. ’ Since 2011 Kane has experienced loan spells to varying degrees of success at Leyton Orient , Millwall , Norwich and Leicester before sparking to life with 26 goals this season . Sherwood insists only Championship clubs would have been interested 14 months ago . ‘ A lot of people would have taken him but no one would have put their hand up in the Premier League , ’ said Sherwood . ‘ That just shows you how far he has come . Everyone will tell you now they always believed he would be a top player . But he had a few loans and a few managers never played him . They ’ d like him now , wouldn ’ t they. ’ Kane has scored eight times in 10 games for the England Under 21s , earning promotion to the senior squad . Sherwood revealed Tottenham wanted to get rid of Kane when he in charge at White Hart Lane . Sherwood blasted Spurs for selling academy graduates Jake Livermore and Steven Caulker and said it took fans time to warm to Kane . ‘ “ He ’ s one of our own ” , they never sang that , they ’ ve only just started and he ’ s had to perform like Alan Shearer . I chuckle when I hear it , ’ said Sherwood . ‘ I think it ’ s ridiculous that you let your homegrown players go , ’ he added . ‘ I thought it was poor that Livermore should leave , I thought it was poor that Caulker should leave , I ’ m talking about players who are playing in the Premier League week in and week out . ‘ I think it ’ s wrong for clubs to continually waste money on investing for new players who you don ’ t know are going to settle . It ’ s not always about spending money . It ’ s also about improving the players you have within the squad. ’ The current Aston Villa boss persisted with Kane and said selling him was never an option .
Senior Spurs figures wanted to replace Harry Kane last summer . The club have been linked with a move for the England striker in recent weeks but it is understood that he has not yet agreed personal terms and will remain at White Hart Lane.