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The latest bombshell in the unending transfer saga of Leroy Sané’s move to Bayern Munich: the injury that the talented winger suffered in Manchester City’s win over Liverpool for the Community Shield is more serious than initially feared. According to Bild and SportBild’s information, a medical examination tomorrow, Thursday, will determine whether the 23-year-old winger will require surgery to repair the injury to his right knee.
Exclusive: Injury worse than expected! tomorrow it will be decided if @LeroySane19 needs surgery @SPORTBILD @BILD_Bayern
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) August 7, 2019
Imminent surgery has not deterred Bayern in the past. The club signed defender Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid despite the fact that he also required surgery on his knee. But the circumstances were different: Hernandez would not have joined the team until the summer anyway, and Bayern was not in desperate need of a central defender. The club’s need for an outside attacking player is far more urgent.
Bild reported an encounter between team doctor Peter Uebecker and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic earlier today in which the doctor appeared to explain Sané’s injury. In hindsight, they may have already had the news.
If Sané indeed needs surgery, he will be unavailable for months, possibly even the entire Hinrunde, Bild speculates. Bayern then would have to think very carefully whether they would sign him regardless and wait for him to convalesce or move on to other targets that could help the team immediately in the first half of the season. Sport1’s Florian Plettenberg argued earlier today that Bayern could potentially reject Sané if he is indeed unable to help the team immediately. Who Bayern could realistically acquire at this point instead of Sané, however, is a difficult question to answer. Sané’s combination of German nationality, proven talent at a position of need, and status as a starter on the national team is unique.
Update: Sané’s price lower?
German-Canadian reporter for Forbes Manuel Veth suspects City’s plan to drive up Sané’s price may have backfired. Bayern’s front office is reportedly not amused by the stunt:
The best part about the Sané injury? #ManCity played him to drive up the price, I reckon that price has just gone down significantly. From what I hear internally #Bayern were not impressed by City fielding the player amidst negotiations.
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) August 7, 2019