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July 2, 2020

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Bayern looks to the future with Sane, Kouassi

Source: Xinhua | 00:05 UTC+8 July 2, 2020 | Print Edition

Bayern Munich is turning its thoughts to future challenges.

The German Bundesliga champion is said to have agreed to pay English Premier League’s Manchester City 50 million euros (US$56.33 million) plus possible bonuses of up to 10 million euros for winger Leroy Sane.

The 24-year-old is expected to travel to Munich shortly to complete the transfer, provided the German international passes the medical examination.

While Sane will sign a contract until 2025, the Bavarians announced that Paris-Saint Germain defender Tanguy Kouassi would join them. The French under-18 international has signed an agreement until 2024.

“I really hope I will be able to establish myself here and play a lot of matches. For that I’ll work hard,” Kouassi said in a club statement yesterday.

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic called Kouassi one of Europe’s most promising talents. While the central defender is regarded as a future investment, Sane is seen as the primary transfer in the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sane joined City from Schalke 04 for 40 million euros in 2016. Although he cannot play for Bayern in this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign, it is understood the forward will not return to action for City and has played his final game for the club.

City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed Sane’s departure yesterday.

The winger is expected to earn around 17 million euros per season at Bayern. Sane is yet to prove his fitness after suffering a significant knee injury in August 2019.

Bayern stepped back from a possible deal back at the time but has kept in close contact with the player.

While Sane has been in the City squad for all games since the pandemic-hit season resumed earlier this month, his only appearance was for 11 minutes as a substitute against Burnley.

Reaching the agreement with City is the final chapter in a seemingly never-ending story. For months the oil-rich English club and its German counterpart battled over the transfer fee with City demanding 70 million euros and Bayern offering 40 million euros.

Sane’s present contract with City will expire at the end of next season.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick is exceptionally fond of his new arrival’s qualities. Next to Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, Sane is said to strengthen the club’s game down the flanks.

The winger will join Bayern’s promising group of youngsters like Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Suele, Leon Goretzka, and Gnabry, who have already reached top international level.

Bayern is also said to be eyeing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz but is facing tough competition from international rivals such as Spanish giant Real Madrid.

And, according to media reports, negotiations with left-back and central David Alaba have stalled as the 28-year-old is demanding a significant pay rise.

PSG, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and City are said to be interested in the Austrian international even though he has contract with the Bavarians until 2021. In-house statements say Bayern doesn’t expect one of the big clubs to pay the required sum amid the pandemic.

Bayern faces Leverkusen on Saturday in the 2020 German Cup final with the final stage of the UCL to follow in August. The Germans need to finish their last-16-round duel against Chelsea after a 3-0 victory in the first leg.

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