Manchester City’s players expect Leroy Sane to leave the club for Bayern Munich, The Athletic understands, but the winger is set to stay in England until the end of the season.



The German champions believe it would make more financial sense to move for Sane in the summer, when he will have just one year left on his contract. Hasan Salihamidzic, the sporting director, confirmed on Thursday that a deal “is not an option in winter”.



That provides Sane the opportunity — or indeed challenge — to replicate the performances that have made him one of the most exciting wingers in Europe and contribute to the second half of City’s season as they look to make up for falling so far behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race.



Sane returned to Manchester last week to step up his rehabilitation from the knee injury that has kept him out for half the season and in the past few days, first-team sources have indicated that a transfer...