Price is right but Bayern also get good deal
AFTER two years of fighting over Leroy Sane, City and Bayern Munich might now be set for another argument – who has got the better deal?
Bayern will pay EUR49million up front with EUR11m in add-ons which takes the deal to £54.8m, it was confirmed.
City are losing one of their best attackers, but Sane had signalled his desire to leave the Etihad and could have left on a free transfer next summer. His injury this season meant he only played 11 minutes since August, so City have effectively got a hefty transfer fee for a player who was not part of the first-team picture.
In his three seasons at the club, Sane scored 39 times in 135 appearances, adding 45 assists.
Sane, who cost £46m from Schalke, won seven trophies at City, and his winner against Liverpool in the Premier League last season proved decisive in winning the title ahead of the Reds. It’s fair to say City got their money’s worth.
But that record shows what City will lose, and while they have coped without him this season, they have also lost their Premier League crown.
For Bayern to sign a winger of Sane’s quality for an initial fee of £44m is an absolute steal compared to some of the more recent fees paid for players.
It’s fair to say Bayern are getting a £100m winger for half the price, and it’s easy to see why they will be delighted to finally get their man.
Yet there was talk of Bayern’s top budget for Sane being £35m. So for City to get another £20m out of the German club – especially after their public pursuit of him for the last two years – is good business in the circumstances of his contract situation. But that shouldn’t be surprise. This deal is another example of City’s negotiating prowess, adding to a long list of impressive transfer fees received for players who are arguably not worth as much as City have received for them.
A look at City’s other recent sales shows more fine negotiating for unproven or ageing players.
Danilo left for around £33m – a £6m profit – after failing to displace Kyle Walker. Douglas Luiz, without a first-team appearance, joined Aston Villa for £15m, and Fabian Delph generated £8m from Everton.
Bayern Munich may benefit from City’s development of Sane for the prime of his career, but City have easily got their money’s worth from him in the last three years, and have made money overall.