Bayern Munich are desperate to sign Leroy Sane (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City have turned down an opening proposal from Bayern Munich for Leroy Sane, sources have told Metro.co.uk.

Bayern have conducted an aggressive and public charm offensive in an attempt to persuade Sane into returning to Germany this summer, but their delay in submitting an official bid has raised eyebrows at the Etihad.

Metro.co.uk revealed in April that City feared Sane’s head had been turned by the potential of a move to Bavaria and the German is understood to be keen on a move to the Allianz.

Sane’s contract expires in 2021 and City, who have offered the German a new £180,000-a-week deal, suspect his representatives have ‘cynically’ allowed talks to continue without a definitive answer on their proposal.


Sane has been offered a new deal at City worth around £180,000-a-week (Picture: Getty)

That, coupled with Bayern’s antagonistic pursuit of Sane, has angered City and the club were furious with Niko Kovac’s claim that he was ‘confident’ a deal was close for the winger.



Bayern’s hierarchy were equally enraged and asked Kovac to apologise to Pep Guardiola, fearing that he had jeopardised negotiations.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness has now taken charge of talks with City and Metro.co.uk understands a fee of around £72m (€80m) has been suggested.

However, the figure falls well short of City’s valuation of Sane and the club made it clear that any successful bid would have to be vastly improved.

City believe the offer was merely a starting point from Bayern and they expect the German club to make a second attempt in the coming days.

The German transfer window doesn’t close until September 2nd, which partly explains Bayern’s lack of urgency in bidding for Sane.

City, though, will not consider selling Sane without a significantly improved offer from Bayern and any deal is likely to include an extensive set of add-ons.

Niko Kovac admits to making an apology to Pep Guardiola over Leroy Sane remarks ‘We [Bayern and him] talked about it. Maybe I was too offensive in that interview. I talked to Pep and apologised because of itI would like to apologise to the club, too. I will restrain myself in cases like this in the future.’

Guardiola is unlikely to seek a like-for-like replacement for Sane should City agree to his departure as he feels Kevin De Bruyne’s return to fitness will allow Bernardo Silva to return to his preferred position on the wing.

Guardiola remains keen on keeping Sane and feels he can become one of the best players in the world at the Etihad.

However, there is a frustration within City’s coaching staff at Sane’s resistance to follow instructions and believe he lacks discipline when out of possession.

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