Football News

Leroy Sane’s agent confirms contact from “top clubs” as Bayern face competition for Man City forward

By Mohamed Moallim

Published: 17:29, 16 April 2020 | Updated: 12:21, 6 May 2020

The representative of Leroy Sane says Bayern Munich are not the only top club monitoring his client’s transfer situation.

Sane, 24, was heavily linked with a move to Germany‘s reigning champions last summer but a move never came to fruition after he sustained a serious knee injury.

Leroy Sane at City: Five key things to know…

  • Age: 24
  • Fee: £37m
  • Appearances: 134
  • Goals/Assists: 39/45
  • Major honours: Premier League (2), League Cup (2), Community Shield (2), FA Cup

The setback, which took place in the 2019/20 season’s curtain raiser against Liverpool, remains Sane’s last appearance under Pep Guardiola – though he’s since returned to first-team training.

Sane’s present deal at the Ethiad expires in June 2021 but he is yet to sign an extension, which fuelled speculation regarding Bayern’s interest but they are not the only ones to have made contact, according to the forward’s agent Damir Smoljan.

“Together with him, we talk with Manchester City about what the next step could look like,” he told Bild.

“The interest of Bayern Munich is no secret. But other absolute top clubs also contacted us about Leroy.

“Bayern is the only club in Germany that Leroy can imagine as the next step in his career.

“He sees there the requirements for achieving his big goal of winning the Champions League.”

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How Sane would fit into Bayern’s attack

A move to Bayern would see Sane return to his homeland. The Essen-born winger made his name at boyhood club Schalke 04 which led to him becoming Guardiola‘s first signing at City.

Bayern’s interest last summer came about as the Bundesliga club looked for reinforcements after simultaneously losing Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, both of whom played an integral role in shaping the modern Bayern.

Bayern have since utilised Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and even Philippe Coutinho on the flanks but the likelihood is Sane would play in his favourable left-wing role should he complete a move to Bavaria.

Hans-Dieter Flick, who is now the club’s full-time manager, has preferred to use a 4-2-3-1 system throughout his tenure. A hypothetical front four would consist of Gnabry on the right, Thomas Müller behind centre-forward Robert Lewandowski and Sane on the opposite flank.