Romano says Arsenal would need "crazy bid" to sign key transfer target

Arsenal would need to submit a “crazy” offer to sign Bayern Munich and Germany winger Leroy Sane, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Sane, 26, is under contract with Bayern until 2025, having initially signed for them from Manchester City back in 2020.

Arsenal are likely to enter the market in January following an injury to Gabriel Jesus, who is set to miss up to three months after undergoing knee surgery.

In his Daily Briefing substack, via CaughtOffside, Romano addressed speculation about what a move for Sane might look like.

“There has been some speculation, but there are no talks between Bayern and Arsenal for Sane as of today,” Romano said.

“I don’t see Bayern selling Sane in January unless a crazy bid arrives – their plan is to continue with him.”

A few months prior to these comments, Romano suggested that a move for Sane would be “a tough deal for any club”, with Sane being linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United at the time.

Leroy Sane, a key player or a spare man at Bayern?

Since swapping Manchester for Munich, Sane has provided a steady contribution to his side in terms of goals and assists.

In his debut season, Sane scored six and assisted ten in the Bundesliga, before providing another 14 league goals and assists in his second campaign.

Sane’s contribution in the Champions League last season was also remarkable, scoring six and assisting six in just ten Champions League games.

Before this season paused for the World Cup, Sane’s numbers continued to impress, with five goals and three assists in the Bundesliga and six Champions League goal contributions.

Yet, Bayern Munich’s attack is extremely competitive. Sane has to fight week in week out with the likes of Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala for game time.

A Manchester City reunion at the Emirates?

Mikel Arteta’s connection to Manchester City has almost certainly fuelled Arsenal’s link with Sane.

Arteta and Sane worked together when Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant, and Arteta is no stranger to bringing Manchester City personnel to the Emirates, with both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko making the switch in the summer.

Jesus and Zinchenko have been crucial in Arteta’s rebuild at Arsenal and with the talismanic Brazilian striker now facing a spell on the sidelines, perhaps Arteta will go back to his Manchester City routes to find his replacement.