Bayern Release Statement Denying Leroy Sane Has 'Decided' to Join Club After Reports of €100m Deal

On Thursday afternoon, reports emerged claiming that Manchester City forward Leroy Sane had decided to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, following advanced talks between the two sides.

However, an official statement from the German side has now denied this is the case, claiming the reports did not 'correspond to the facts'.

The 23-year-old has been a target for Bayern all summer, after he struggled to command a regular place in City's team during the second half of the season, with manager Pep Guardiola often confining him to the substitutes bench.

At the start of July, 90min exclusively reported that Sane was keen on making a return to his homeland, with the prospect of a guaranteed starting berth the major factor behind this desire.

And on Thursday, German publication Kicker reiterated Sane's desire to join Bayern, reporting that he had agreed to either a four or five-year deal in Bavaria.

This followed on from confirmation that Bayern had re-entered negotiations with City, and that talks were at an advanced stage. Kicker's report claimed an agreement had been reached that would see Sane return to the Bundesliga for a fee of over €100m.

However, the Bavarian club have subsequently issued an official statement decrying that the situation has unfolded in such a fashion.

On Twitter, they declared: "News reports made today stating that Leroy Sané has decided to join FC Bayern do not correspond to the facts."

The saga surrounding Sane has been played out very publicly, with Bayern coach Niko Kovac going on the record about the club's interest in the player numerous times, calling him a 'dream signing' and declaring: "Leroy is a very good player. We want him and the club is working on it. But I'm confident and assume that we can get him." 

That last comment earned him a public telling off from Bayern CEO Karl Heinz-Rumenigge, who explained: "I did not like the statement, so I do not hide it.

"We have a very good relationship with Manchester City - our former coach Pep Guardiola is coach there. Sane is still under contract there. Neither optimistic nor pessimistic statements continue to help us.

"We have to do our job, the coach has to do his job and if we all do the job well then we will have a successful season."