Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Leroy Sane does want to leave the Etihad Stadium and play for another club.
It is is not surprising news, considering Bayern Munich’s long term pursuit of the 24-year-old, but Guardiola has now made it clear that the player won’t be signing a new contract with the Citizens:
“Leroy said he doesn’t want to extend the contract so it means he wants to leave and it is going to happen this summer or when he is out of contract. The club have talked to me, they’ve offered two or three times to extend his contract, he rejected so it means he wants to play in another club.”
“If at the end of this season we arrive at an agreement with another club, he is going to leave. If not he will stay one more year and leave when out of contract.”
Supporters on Twitter want City to take a hardline stance on Sane’s future:
Don’t play him and sell him ASAP for the right money or under 23 for a year
— Carl Whittaker (@whittaker_carl) June 19, 2020
100m only, otherwise a year in under 23z.
— Abdirahim Warsame (@AbdirahimWarsa5) June 19, 2020
with the right price only ??♂️ even pepe costed arsenal £72 millions
— tdk (@zikrydebruyne) June 19, 2020
he should rot on the bench until next summer. he’s club property
— Addy (@mcity1964) June 19, 2020
Just don’t use him then he won’t put ? in rather use another player
— Carl Whittaker (@whittaker_carl) June 19, 2020
Others are hoping that youngster Jayden Braaf is now afforded opportunities ahead of the German international:
Dissapointing but we knew that. Now though, time for this to step up ? pic.twitter.com/zmzr8PfiGd
— Mohad (@mohamedamiin2) June 19, 2020
JAYDEN BRAAF CMON MY FRIEND AND DON’T BE AFRAID OF THÉ COMPETITION
— Ndg 3️⃣?? (@igor_ndg3) June 19, 2020
Let’s get havertz and bring braaf up
— mike (@mdimona14) June 19, 2020
It is unlikely that we’ll see much of Sane between now and the end of the season. With the player having his heart set on leaving, Guardiola won’t be keen on selecting someone who isn’t 100% committed.
In terms of his sale, City will likely continue to hold out for the highest figure possible, even though they are aware he can sign a pre-contract agreement with Bayern in January.