Manchester United have been linked, in recent times, with a number of players who previously donned the sky blue shirt of Man City.
While Jadon Sancho would arrive at Old Trafford in an ill-fated £73 million deal from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, the Old Trafford outfit also tried to sign former Man City starlets Adrien Rabiot and Jeremie Frimpong.
Now-Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling was mentioned over the summer, while Pedro Porro and Danilo – now at Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus respectively – have appeared in the gossip columns of late too.
And then there is Leroy Sane. The jet-heeled Bayern Munich winger who was one of the most crucial pieces in Pep Guardiola’s early Etihad Stadium jigsaw.
After Man United snapped up Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt in August, Sky Germany are reporting that three more Bayern Munich stars are on the Red Devils’ radar.
Leroy Sane wants Bayern Munich stay amid Manchester United links
United are reportedly keen on Alphonso Davies – the contract-rebel left-back perfectly suited to Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system – and powerhouse midfielder Leon Goretzka.
Sane is another allegedly under consideration, even if signing a high-profile 28-year-old with colossal wages and a concerning injury record feels distinctly Glazer-esque. With Ineos bringing an end to Man United’s self-defeating penchant of signing expensive and ageing stars on massive deals, the chance of Sane returning to England’s north west appears distinctly fanciful.
Yet, that has not stopped the rumour mill from turning.
But with Sane now admitting that he is leaning towards signing a new deal at the Allianz Arena – his current contract expires next summer – this should bring an end to one of the more bemusing links of late-2024.
“Generally, my top priority is not how much I earn,” Sane tells BILD. “To be honest, I haven’t thought about [my wages] for a second. It’s about the whole package.
“What is my position [in Bayern’s plans]? How does the club see me? What is the playing philosophy? Can we achieve something big together like winning the Champions League? Those are the things that are important to me first and foremost.
“I feel really comfortable. The discussions with Vinni [Kompany, coach], Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are very good. So, my thoughts are currently only with FC Bayern. We will see everything else in the next few weeks and months.
“I feel comfortable at the club and in the dressing room. What matters to me is that I am an important part of FC Bayern’s plans, and I want to confirm this role.”
Ruben Amorim’s wide options look strong
Sane, who scored as Bayern defeated Erik ten Hag’s Man United 4-3 in the Champions League group-stages a year ago, moved to Bavaria in a £55 million deal back in 2020.
Man United’s wide options are, however, one of the stronger areas of a roster Ruben Amorim inherited from the sacked Ten Hag.
Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford will all be competing for a starting spot away at Ipswich Town on Sunday, while Amorim ran the rule over Antony at wing-back in training this week.
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