Pep’s set to replace Sane with... a centre back

PEP GUARDIOLA has questioned Manchester City’s financial muscle to sign a replacement for Leroy Sane, admitting that transfer priorities lie elsewhere.

Sane will leave the Etihad Stadium this summer providing that Bayern Munich up their bid for him, which is understood to have started at £30million.

Though Sane only has 12 months left on his contract, City expect to recoup significantly more than that and are open to keeping him for another season if required.

Guardiola suggested they may not target a wide forward if Sane does leave, implying money needs to be spent elsewhere — notably at centre back.

‘I think we have other priorities (in the transfer market),’ he said. ‘I don’t know after coronavirus if the situation financially for clubs is changing. We’re going to see at the end of this season.’

Sane has missed the majority of this season, with the team second in the league, in the FA quarterfinals and last 16 of the Champions League, and Guardiola pointed to other members of his squad playing wide left instead. Gabriel Jesus impressed there at Real Madrid in February, while Phil Foden’s best display this term came on the flank in the Carabao Cup final.

‘We have enough good players,’ Guardiola added. ‘Gabriel can play on the left, Phil Foden, we have Raheem (Sterling). Most of them are in healthy conditions.’

Meanwhile, Burnley captain Ben Mee believes they can gatecrash the European places despite serious issues ahead of the restart.

The Clarets, who played in last season’s Europa League, could be without seven first-team regulars tonight but Mee believes they can surprise over the coming weeks.

‘It’s something we can aim for,’ he said. ‘Every player wants to play in Europe, those are the nights you remember when your career is finished. We’ll be going for everything we can.’