Gundogan makes Sane stay plea
ILKAY Gundogan has asked his City team-mate Leroy Sane to stay at the club.
The winger is yet to kick a ball for the Blues in the Premier League this season as he suffered a serious knee injury in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool before the campaign began.
Thankfully, he only suffered ligament damage and not a full tear, which would have ended his season before it began. The 23-year-old recently made his return to action by playing 57 minutes for the Under-23s against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium but will be unable to play for the first team any time soon due to the suspension of football during the coronavirus outbreak. Despite Sane’s lack of playing time, Bayern Munich haven’t lost their interest in the winger as high-ranking club officials have once again been discussing a potential move in the media.
However, his fellow countryman Gundogan wants him to stay at the Etihad.
“Sure,” he replied, with a winky face emoji, when asked during a Twitter Q&A if he’s told Sane to stay at the club. “I would be happy if he remains my teammate for many years ... we will see what will happen!”
EVEN before the Premier League season was suspended, City were facing a summer of uncertainty.
The Blues were hoping the appeal against their two-year UEFA ban would be heard before the summer, but the postponement of the
Premier League and Champions League has added another layer of doubt to Pep Guardiola’s preparations for the 2020/21 season.
It’s hardly ideal to be looking at what you need for a new season when you don’t know if, or when, the current one will end.
But that is the task facing the
Blues boss, and he could use the next two weeks to get ahead of some transfer preparation in what could be a hectic few months over the summer.
Here we look at three areas City can work on before football resumes...
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CONTRACT RENEWALS
ONLY two players are out of contract this summer – David Silva and Claudio Bravo. Neither are expected to renew, so there are no pressing contract discussions outstanding.
There is the matter of keeping the best players at the Etihad, though, and reports have suggested City will use this enforced break to press on with new contracts for Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
Both players have been excellent this season, and would be the targets of every big club around Europe if they were available. City’s uncertain Champions League future makes this point slightly complicated, but negotiating time has emerged to persuade them to stay at the club that didn’t exist one week ago. It’s worth a try.
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City’s need for a new centre-back has been made glaringly obvious this season
LEROY SANE’S FUTURE
IT’S the transfer saga that just won’t go away. City were given time through Sane’s unfortunate injury in August, when it seemed Bayern Munich might have made a late move in last summer’s transfer window. Now, as the winger nears a return to action, Bayern’s interest will inevitably reappear, and City must