In the circumstances, Manchester City may feel they have got a good deal for Leroy Sane.
Having signed him for £37million from Schalke in 2016, a transfer fee of £44.7m – rising to £54.8m with add-ons according to Sky Sports – seems like shrewd business.
As Pep Guardiola pointed out earlier this month, City still have plenty of options up front. “Gabriel Jesus can play on the left, Phil Foden can play on the left, we have Raheem [Sterling] there,” he said. “Most of them are in good healthy conditions, like Phil, Gabriel, Raheem, Riyad [Mahrez]. They can play quite regularly for a long period of time.”
Sane, notably, has not been in a position to play regularly this season. In fact, City are about to receive a hefty fee for a player who has featured for less than 30 minutes this term.
That is not his fault whatsoever, having torn his anterior cruciate ligament against Liverpool in the Community Shield showcase at Wembley last August. It’s telling that, while he is yet to prove his long-term fitness, Bayern Munich are willing to take such a considerable risk on him.
By all accounts, Sane did not want to extend his contract at City and, given the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis, the transfer fee they have negotiated looks even better.
Throw in the fact that he was heading into the last year of his contract and, all in all, City will be satisfied that they have received a decent return for their investment.
Bayern, meanwhile, will feel confident that they have signed one of the most talented young forwards in Europe for a fee that comes nowhere near to reflecting his true value.
Injuries aside, there’s little doubt that Sane has the talent to revive his career in Germany.
Bayern’s rebuild continues
With Sane in the side, Bayern’s forward line will be among the most formidable in Europe. While rumours persist over Kingsley Coman’s future, the thought of Sane lining up alongside Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski will be enough to give most Bundesliga defenders the sweats.
Assuming Coman stays, Sane will have fierce competition on both flanks. Other opportunities could arise, however, with Lewandowski and Thomas Muller both making inroads into their early thirties.
It will be interesting to see whether Hansi Flick opts for an attacking reshuffle to accommodate Sane or whether, for the moment, Bayern’s newest addition will be expected to work his way gradually into the team as he looks to rediscover his sharpness after such a long spell on the sidelines.
With Bayern likely to challenge for silverware on all fronts next season, Sane should get ample game time whatever happens. Staying fit will be one of his biggest challenges but, as long as he can avoid any recurring injury problems, he will get the chance to impress.
As well as adding further pace, goal threat and technical excellence to their forward line, he also brings Bayern that much closer to the dream of ‘FC Deutschland’. A Germany international who should have the best years of his career ahead of him, the Bayern hierarchy will hope that Sane can join Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich as a golden boy of the German national team.
The ultimate audition?
Sane’s disappointment at being left out of the Germany squad for the 2018 World Cup was well publicised.
It must still rankle with him given that he tallied 10 goals and 15 assists as City won the Premier League that season and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Meanwhile, in his absence, Die Mannschaft crashed out at the group stage.
Speaking not long after the tournament, he said: “It gives you motivation. It would be a dream to play in the World Cup.”
Assuming he still nurtures that hope, there is no better place to be than Bayern Munich. Joachim Loew will not be able to ignore him for long if he performs anywhere near his best at the Allianz Arena.
For Sane, a return to the Bundesliga could be the ultimate audition ahead of Qatar 2022. At this stage of his career, a move to ‘”FC Deutschland” makes all sorts of sense.
More on the Bundesliga
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- Rabbi Matondo interview: ‘I could never say anything bad about Man City – but I’m so grateful to be at Schalke’
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- ‘I didn’t come here just to play football’: Everton loanee Kenny on Schalke, Wagner and his Goodison struggles
- ‘One of the most surreal days’: Uwe Rosler talks about how coronavirus stopped the Bundesliga in its tracks
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2BZioG8
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