Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has played down the possibility of raiding his former stomping grounds – the Bundesliga – for young Schalke winger Leroy Sane.
Man City have had a relatively quiet transfer window, only signing Nolito from Celta Vigo and Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund. The former Bayern Munich manager has been strongly linked with a move for another Bundesliga talent in 20-year old German winger Leroy Sane from Schalke 04.
However the Spanish manager recently played down possibilities of signing the 20-year old, saying that he didn’t know whether the transfer would happen.
“Of course we talk to him – Schalke know we are interested but at this moment we don’t have many possibilities to get him,” Guardiola said after Man City’s match against Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup, according to Sky Sports.
“There is a difference [in opinion] between Manchester City and Schalke and it is quite big. I do not know what is going to happen but right now he is with Schalke,” Guardiola added.
Leroy Sane made his international debut for Germany last year, and has attracted the attention of both Manchester United and Manchester City with his performances for Schalke this past season. The young winger scored nine goals and registered seven assists, while putting up three ‘Man of the Match’ performances, in 42 appearances for the Bundesliga club.
Manchester United have already signed attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund though, leaving the door open for Man City to bring the player to the Premier League. Sane would provide a good alternative to the likes of the aging Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri, and his young age gives Guardiola the opportunity to mould him and help him realise his potential.
Schalke are holding out for a fee of £45 million for Leroy Sane, a figure which wouldn’t be too much of a problem for the free-spending Man City. In fact, reports in Germany had claimed that City had already agreed on a £46.5m deal with Die Knappen for the winger. However, Guardiola’s recent comments imply that there is still a long way to go before the speculation that has been building about Sane’s arrival at the Etihad comes to a conclusion.
