Deal agreed with Bayern Munich for Leroy Sane - €60m (including add-ons)

[BillyShears]

I just don’t believe for one second we intend keeping him around, taking into account his cruciate injury I think we will just want to draw a line under it and move on. We’d look fucking stupid if we held out and then he breaks down with a recurrence of said injury and leaves for free. I also don’t see Pep as a manager that likes playing a player who is not wanting to stick around.

He won't play. That's almost certain. I think the problem is that the bad blood between Bayern and City runs deep. It seems to be really personal. People forget, that whilst Sane was wandering around pre season last season 'saying his goodbyes', Bayern had yet to even get in touch with City. They literally moved with a week left in the window. That's an entirely unacceptable way to move with a transfer that big.

Part of me thinks that they were always about laying the ground work for this summer and never had any real intention of doing it back then. But then that also feeds into this idea, that City are looking at them and going "fuck yourselves" now. Because we are not desperate for money despite the CAS ban hanging over our head. I just think the organisation is so big that they can absolutely let him run his contract down. Let's not forget that Silva has done that, Vinny left on a free, Kun will leave on a free. Yaya too. Ultimately we're a club that prefer to keep our better players as long as possible.

Of course there's the human element, but again, sounds like nobody is going to shed any tears for Leroy at the Etihad campus. If he stays he'll be a young player training with the squad, that's it. Also, don't forget that Tevez was a bad smell for 18 months but the club didn't let him go until THEY wanted to. I've said this earlier in this thread but don't underestimate the attitude of the owners when they feel they're being disrespected. We've heard it before, but where they come from you respect your contracts. They'll have little problem in benching Leroy for another year, especially if we win at CAS.

Having said all of that. I think you're probably right. Bayern will end up paying close to what we want.

 

[domalino]

He won't play. That's almost certain. I think the problem is that the bad blood between Bayern and City runs deep. It seems to be really personal. People forget, that whilst Sane was wandering around pre season last season 'saying his goodbyes', Bayern had yet to even get in touch with City. They literally moved with a week left in the window. That's an entirely unacceptable way to move with a transfer that big.

Part of me thinks that they were always about laying the ground work for this summer and never had any real intention of doing it back then. But then that also feeds into this idea, that City are looking at them and going "fuck yourselves" now. Because we are not desperate for money despite the CAS ban hanging over our head. I just think the organisation is so big that they can absolutely let him run his contract down. Let's not forget that Silva has done that, Vinny left on a free, Kun will leave on a free. Yaya too. Ultimately we're a club that prefer to keep our better players as long as possible.

Of course there's the human element, but again, sounds like nobody is going to shed any tears for Leroy at the Etihad campus. If he stays he'll be a young player training with the squad, that's it. Also, don't forget that Tevez was a bad smell for 18 months but the club didn't let him go until THEY wanted to. I've said this earlier in this thread but don't underestimate the attitude of the owners when they feel they're being disrespected. We've heard it before, but where they come from you respect your contracts. They'll have little problem in benching Leroy for another year, especially if we win at CAS.

Having said all of that. I think you're probably right. Bayern will end up paying close to what we want.

I think Sané has been very poorly advised for several years.

For starters not accepting a contract that allegedly tripled his wages after our first league win is a mental decision.

Secondly the way he seems to have fallen out with Pep because of his work ethic/ not following instructions, and let's not forget that Löw tossed him out of the world cup squad for non-footballing reasons.

Thirdly the entire approach to this transfer was amateur. Pep said on the eve of the community shield that they didnt know what was going on, because Leroy had said nothing at all about wanting to move, and no club had contacted them.

I know he has changed agents 2 or 3 times since he joined us and you have to wonder where he is getting them. Getting David Beckham's agency to make you a world star when you're just sat on the bench seems...premature?

 

[ctid1894]

I didn’t say anything about him being the best. He’s clearly only interested in Bayern and he’s seemingly prepared to sit on his arse for another year to get the move. He’s dumb as fuck IMO and that’s why he’s not overly stressed. The funny thing is Bayern will make him their top paid player in a year.

Ok, I've clearly mis-interpreted what you said so apologies. Why do you think he's dumb as fuck?

You also appear contradict yourself by saying Bayern aren't desperate for his signature but then go on to say they will make him their top paid player in a year. If they weren't that desperate surely they wouldn't make him their top paid player?

 

[BillyShears]

Ok, I've clearly mis-interpreted what you said so apologies. Why do you think he's dumb as fuck?

You also appear contradict yourself by saying Bayern aren't desperate for his signature but then go on to say they will make him their top paid player in a year. If they weren't that desperate surely they wouldn't make him their top paid player?

The answers to all of that are in my previous posts mate.

 

[HelloCity]

The answers to all of that are in my previous posts mate.

Do you think we’d replace him?

Although I’d love us to go for Sancho, I’ve always thought the club would be put off due to it setting the precedent of a youth player walking away and coming back on mega wages.

 

[BillyShears]

Do you think we’d replace him?

Although I’d love us to go for Sancho, I’ve always thought the club would be put off due to it setting the precedent of a youth player walking away and coming back on mega wages.

Thankfully yes we will. The club are at pains not to be linked with replacements as they see it as bad for negotiations with Bayern. But there’s a list of 3 to replace Leroy.

 

[JimmyGrimble10]

Thankfully yes we will. The club are at pains not to be linked with replacements as they see it as bad for negotiations with Bayern. But there’s a list of 3 to replace Leroy.

Any names? Or even ideas yourself?

 

[BillyShears]

Any names? Or even ideas yourself?

Nah. They’re playing this very tight with that position. One thing I will say. Sancho is club trained and the FA and PL rules as well as the CL are going to get tighter on numbers. I’d be staggered if he wasn’t in the list.

 

[Dax777]

If he stays another year and is sparingly used, I don’t think he’ll ever fulfil his potential after 2 big years of his development effectively missed.

Whether he stays or not, I sense he'd never be as good as many here believe he would. He has a bit of Balotelli in him. The capacity to do the exceptional. But an inability to ever be consistent enough to everbecome one of the greatest.

 

[Dax777]

Sane has to be one of the dumbest footballers I've encountered. On almost every level the way he's moved in the last 18 months is totally stupid. If he doesn't sign a new deal he won't play any meaningful football for us. Which will mean he will miss TWO FULL SEASONS of football in his career to try and secure a move to a club who are so (not) desperate for him they haven't once come close to matching City's valuation or indeed his market valuation.

This is before you begin to add up the fact that for the last 18 months, if not more, there has been a contract offer on the table doubling his salary at City. That means that he's effectively missed out on million and millions of pounds in wages. People will argue "yeah but he'll get that as a signing on fee at Bayern". Sure, but he could've got a hell of a lot more by signing the deal City offered, and then asking Bayern to secure his transfer in the correct manner.

They paid 85 million for Lucas Hernandez but they aren't willing to pay half that for someone who is supposedly a generational talent? Haha.

Personally, I'm at the point where I hope that they don't pay the money and he sits on our bench for another year. Utter clown.

This is unusual for you. There are those I expect this from. But certainly not you.

There is nothing dumb here really. I'm sure Sane's people are in contact with his wish destination club. I'm sure they've made him aware of the bonus he'd get if he doesn't make it harder to sign him.

Yes it sucks for us, but thats life. 2 years ago we had the leverage. So he kept quiet and worked. He wasn't favored but didn't whine. Just bid his time.

Now he is in a position of power and can dictate his future. Bayern will come in with an offer and if we refuse, they'd come with an offer in January ( which at that point we'd have to accept) or lose him for nothing.

I know the dislike for Bayern makes this painful for some (Pep included). But that's life. He played his cards the way he wanted. What If Bayern offers him a 30 million bonus instead of paying City.

Like I said, we should have sold him the minute he didn't sign. We didn't, and now he has all the leverage.

 

[Dax777]

If he makes things ugly and sits out next season, he'll have started 11 games of football between turning 23 and moving to Bayern at 25y 6m with an ACL in between.

2 and half years with no football.

What has he done to suggest he'd make things ugly? From all indications, that's not his MO.

He'd play when Pep says he should play. And sit on the bench when instructed to do so. The only people that might make it ugly would be management and Pep. But that would be pretty of them, so I doubt they'll do that.

At this point, Sane has nothing to fight over. He either leaves this summer, in January or definitely next summer.

The first 2 depends on City and Bayern, the last an inevitable conclusion if the first 2 fails.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Nah. They’re playing this very tight with that position. One thing I will say. Sancho is club trained and the FA and PL rules as well as the CL are going to get tighter on numbers. I’d be staggered if he wasn’t in the list.

I thought Sancho was only here for two years? Wouldn't he need to sign this summer to get his third year in before he turns 21?

 

[Dax777]

That is something that riles me up even more. Bayern has been despicable to us but they have not been fair to Sane either. Haggling like a street urchin for a few mils speaks a lot about how they view Sane as well. I don't know if they offered Sane the key to Germany but it astounds me how Sane does not see that

Because whatever they don't pay City goes to Sane. How hard is it to see the play here. The less Sane cost the more his bonus pay. So obviously, Sane is not going to go out of his way to make his bonus smaller just to help City.

Certainly not for a team he believes doesn't value him. And by team who doesn't value him, I mean US not Bayern. At least it seems that's how Sane sees it.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Because whatever they don't pay City goes to Sane. How hard is it to see the play here. The less Sane cost the more his bonus pay. So obviously, Sane is not going to go out of his way to make his bonus smaller just to help City.has

Certainly not for a team he believes doesn't value him. And by team who doesn't value him, I mean US not Bayern. At least it seems that's how Sane sees it.

But how do you square that with the fact that he turned down a contract to triple his wages in summer 2018? He had just won young player of the year (even though sterling had a better season) so how was he undervalued then?

 

[Dax777]

There are so many hints in his behaviour for still being quite infantile,
but I wonder why his "management" - I hope his mother is out? - doesn't step in to develop his career in a serious way for him?

He is a little sulking childish dickhead and very difficult to deal with on a rational base IMO.
Btw, how is Nasri doing? Great footballer too...

Now this i totally agree with. He is painfully arrogant. Always has been. :(

 

[BillyShears]

This is unusual for you. There are those I expect this from. But certainly not you.

There is nothing dumb here really. I'm sure Sane's people are in contact with his wish destination club. I'm sure they've made him aware of the bonus he'd get if he doesn't make it harder to sign him.

Yes it sucks for us, but thats life. 2 years ago we had the leverage. So he kept quiet and worked. He wasn't favored but didn't whine. Just bid his time.

Now he is in a position of power and can dictate his future. Bayern will come in with an offer and if we refuse, they'd come with an offer in January ( which at that point we'd have to accept) or lose him for nothing.

I know the dislike for Bayern makes this painful for some (Pep included). But that's life. He played his cards the way he wanted. What If Bayern offers him a 30 million bonus instead of paying City.

Like I said, we should have sold him the minute he didn't sign. We didn't, and now he has all the leverage.

Don’t agree with any of that. Sorry.

 

[BillyShears]

I thought Sancho was only here for two years? Wouldn't he need to sign this summer to get his third year in before he turns 21?

Fairly sure he would count as club trained if he came back this year. But others will know this more than me. Even if he isn’t. Same argument applies for English players in general. Rules will get tighter you’ll need more h/g players in your squad.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

the only thing I can see stopping us from signing Sancho is the wages. He's on nearly 200k a week at dortmund, and he'd be expecting kdb/sterling money this summer. but if we win at CAS and sell Sane, I wouldn't be surprised if we said "fuck it" and went for it. His numbers are unreal and that's what we need, end product. Would probably see Bernardo move into midfield.

 

[BillyShears]

But how do you square that with the fact that he turned down a contract to triple his wages in summer 2018? He had just won young player of the year (even though sterling had a better season) so how was he undervalued then?

It’s bollocks. His family wanted him back to Germany. That summer Bayern got on their ear and it began. Simple.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

if we have the money to go for Havertz, as has been mooted, then surely we can afford Sancho, CAS and Sane permitting? Especially with the 15% and first refusal