According to a recent report by Sky in Germany (translated by the Daily Mirror), Bayern Munich have held initial talks with Manchester City winger Leroy Sane and his representatives ahead of a potential switch this summer. The same source has revealed that the Bavarian giants are keen on bringing the German prospect to the Allianz Arena in this off-season. However, it is unclear whether the £100m-rated player fancies a return to his homeland.
Sane was not a guaranteed starter in Pep Guardiola’s first-team last season which has cast doubt on his long-term future with the Mancunian club. The German playmaker still managed to put in a string of match-winning displays at the Etihad Stadium in the previous campaign.
His remarkable contributions helped his team complete a domestic treble by winning the League Cup, the FA Cup and the Premier League in the last term. The 23-year-old featured in 47 matches for the Citizens last season, scoring 16 goals while providing 18 assists across multiple competitions.
With Bayern eager to snap him up this summer, let’s take a look at three alternatives for Guardiola to consider before the start of the new campaign.
Ousmane Dembele
The French forward struggled to find consistency with his performances on the field last season. The Barcelona striker managed to score 14 goals and grabbed nine assists on all fronts. Even though he has been a subject of interest from Bayern Munich recently (via Sport), the Citizens can fend off their competition by letting Sane leave for Munich this summer. Dembele can turn out to be a world-class talent in the coming years so Guardiola should consider bringing him to Manchester ahead of the new season.
Hirving Lozano
The Mexican international has enjoyed a brilliant spell at PSV Eindhoven over the past few years. He also had a terrific 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign as he helped his nation reach the knock stages of the competition. The 23-year-old scored 21 goals and created 12 assists in 40 appearances for PSV Eindhoven last season. Similar to Sane, the former Pachuca talent is versatile enough to feature in any position across the frontline. Hence, he could be a fantastic replacement for the German wing wizard at the Etihad Stadium.
Nicolas Pepe
The LOSC Lille winger has been linked with a whole host of clubs and is currently closing in on a switch to Manchester United. There is no doubt that Man City will face stiff competition if they opt to recruit the Ivory Coast wide player this summer. He had his breakout year in the previous campaign when he found the back of the net 23 times while providing 12 assists for the Ligue 1 outfit across various competitions.
