Will he stay or will he go? The German international’s contract expires at the end of June.
Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané served up a surprise when, seemingly on the verge of agreeing a new contract with a paycut to stay at the club, he instead changed agents and rejected the existing Bayern offer.
What does that mean for the German men’s national team star’s future, though? Bayern honorary president was quick to highlight that it was not yet settled, and midfielder Joshua Kimmich campaigned for his club and country teammate to stay.
Club officials Max Eberl, Herbert Hainer, and Uli Hoeneß have since made additional statements about the situation to the media.
Max Eberl, executive board member for sport
“We will sit down calmly after the celebrations. Then we’ll see if there’s a way forward. We would like to make it [the extension] happen. I have the feeling that Leroy would too. Let’s see,” Eberl is reported as saying (credit to Markus Othmer, via Sky Sport DE journalist Florian Plettenberg, as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Additional comments captured by @iMiaSanMia stressed that there would not be a deadline — even if it extended past the end of the current deal in June and Sané heads into the summer transfer window fully out of contract.
“I can’t say now if we’ll reach an agreement or not, but the door is not closed, not on either side,” Eberl added. “We have a wish, and we’re trying to make it happen. If it can’t be realized, then we’ll take another path.”
Herbert Hainer, club president
The Bayern president was insistent that the club would not be improving on the current terms — reported previously as around €10M in wages plus €5M in attainable bonuses.
“We negotiated an offer with him, and we stand by it. We won’t budge from it one inch. We’ve made that clear. A decision will surely be made in the next few days,” Hainer is quoted as saying by t-online reporter Julian Buhl (via @iMiaSanMia).
Bild expanded on the quote slightly to add. this from Hainer: “If he accepts it, we’ll be happy. If he doesn’t, then that’s his decision. Life goes on. The offer will remain the same.”
Uli Hoeneß, honorary president
But will it only be a few days before all is settled? Bayern legend Uli Hoeneß seems to be doing what he can to turn the temperature down.
“[Bayern can wait] until August 1st, when the new season starts. We’ll let you know when he’s made his decision. That’s his decision, and it just takes time,” Hoeneß said in comments that again come from Julian Buhl, via @iMiaSanMia.
So what now?
There you have it. Sané’s decision to fire his agent, hire Pini Zahavi, and attempt — apparently unsuccessfully — to renegotiate his contract offer has turned everything upside down. But the club does not look like it will budge and will keep the door open for him as long as he is willing to walk back through it.
Will he, or will he be able to find greener pastures in England?
This author’s prediction: Sané will explore his options, find no better deal, and take the Bayern offer with no more than token concessions on the club’s part.
