Leroy Sane will leave Manchester City, either this summer or next, after Pep Guardiola confirmed the winger has rejected multiple contract offers and told the club he wants to leave.
The 24-year-old was strongly linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium last summer to Bayern Munich but no deal was ever reached. The club had hoped to hold onto him but that now won't be the case.
On Friday, in a press conference, Guardiola revealed the former Schalke player had rejected a deal and would leave when his contract was up in 2021, if not before.
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"Leroy has said he doesn't want to extend the contract. He wants to leave," Guardiola said, "That will either happen this summer or when he is out of contract.
"The club spoke to Leroy two or three times to extend his contract. He rejected. He wants to play at another club.
"If at the end of the season both clubs arrive at an agreement then he'll leave, if not then he'll stay one more year and then leave at the end of his contract."
Sane was expected to leave for Bayern last summer, when Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery left the club, but didn't make a move for him.
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The German then tore his ACL in the opening 10 minutes of the Community Shield against Liverpool, keeping him out for most of the season, and no deal was ever going to happen.
Guardiola had hoped he could secure a deal to keep Sane at the club and admitted he was disappointed with the news, adding, "I'm so disappointed. When we make an offer to a player, it is because we want him. We tried before the injury, we tried after. He has other wishes and I understand.
"We want players who want to play with this club, players who commit to try to achieve targets but of course we respect him. I have nothing against him but he decided he wants another adventure for his career. We are going to count on the players who want to stay here."
The winger, who was famously not called up for the 2018 World Cup despite a magnificent season for City the previous year, is yet to make an appearance for the club in the league this season but was an unused substitute in City's first game back on Wednesday.
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Guardiola's side didn't need the winger as they ran out 3-0 winners against Arsenal, thanks to David Luiz's haphazard performance, to deny Liverpool the chance to win the league against Everton this weekend.
Who do you think City should target to replace Sane? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Manchester City, Football News, Pep Guardiola, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Premier League, Transfer news, Bayern Munich, Leroy Sane, Bundesliga
