The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sane rejects offer of new City contract
Spurs open scoring, but Red Devils extend unbeaten run
Leroy Sane’s days at Manchester City appear to be numbered after manager Pep Guardiola revealed the winger has rejected a new contract and is seeking a move elsewhere.
Sane still has another year left on his existing deal and City had hoped to tempt the German to put pen to paper on fresh terms, but the 24-year-old has decided his future lies away from the club.
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are overwhelming favourites to secure Sane’s signature, although Guardiola is in no rush to offload a player who he signed in 2016 from Schalke for an initial £37 million fee.
“Leroy has said he doesn’t want to extend the contract next season, so it means he wants to leave and it’s going to happen this summer or when he is out of contract,” Guardiola said.
“The club offered him two or three times to extend his contract, he rejected it so he wants to play for another club.”
Sane has not featured for City since suffering cruciate ligament damage during the Community Shield last August, and was an unused substitute as City resumed their Premier League campaign on Wednesday against Arsenal.
Guardiola revealed Bravo and midfielder David Silva will remain at City until the 2019-20 campaign is complete, having initially been due to leave at the end of June following the expiry of their contracts.
● John McGinn will be assessed ahead of Aston Villa’s clash with Chelsea tomorrow.
The Scotland midfielder played 76 minutes of Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield United, his first game since December after recovering from a fractured ankle and boss Dean Smith is wary of overloading him. they remain outsiders, still four points behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, who extended their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions.
The first 20 minutes at Tottenham’s stadium, with specifically designed acoustics to help keep the noise of 62,000 fans in despite the new normal of empty seats, were uninspiring
United were slightly the better side and should have gone ahead moments before the first drinks break, but Marcus Rashford, who had a monumental week off the pitch, could not convert a golden chance.
Davinson Sanchez’s miscued header went straight to the England international at the far post but his firsttime shot was straight at Hugo Lloris, who did well to keep the ball out with his feet.
But it was Spurs who went ahead with their first real attack of the game when Serge Aurier’s interception fell to Bergwijn, who burst through the United defence as if they were not there and fired a powerful effort through the hands of De Gea.
It was great play by the Dutchman but questions will be asked of the way Harry Maguire and Fred were beaten so easily and also over De Gea’s inability to keep the ball out, with Sky Sports pundit Keane saying he should not be allowed back on the bus after the game.
If De
Gea was at fault then he made some atonement five minutes later with a superb save.
Spurs had joy down the right and Bergwijn sent in an inviting cross for Son Heung-min, but the Spaniard acrobatically tipped over the crossbar.
United came out meaning business after the break and they controlled the game, setting up camp in Tottenham’s half.
Mourinho’s men were resolute, though, and restricted the chances United had, with Fernandes’ drilled effort their best attempt.
Pogba, who played under Mourinho at Old Trafford, was brought on and he immediately helped up the ante even further.
But Spurs defended well and a brilliant tackle from Dier denied Anthony Martial, who then brought a brilliant save out of Lloris – the Frenchman denying his compatriot with an acrobatic tip over the bar.
They could not hold out, though, as a bit of Pogba magic helped United draw level in the 80th minute.
The Frenchman made a fool of Dier by ghosting past him and then drew a foul out of him, with Fernandes confidently striking the penalty into the bottom corner.
On the stroke of 90 minutes United were awarded another penalty when Dier was adjudged to have tripped Fernandes, but VAR decided there was no foul and it ended 1-1.