Bundesliga

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said Leroy Sane is unlikely to join the club this summer due to the "insane" sums of money Manchester City are demanding for his sale.

Sane has been strongly linked with the Bundesliga champions after three years in England. The 23-year-old has struggled at times to nail down a starting spot at the Etihad Stadium, while veteran Bayern wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will leave the club this summer.

However, Hoeness is downbeat on the prospect of signing Sane and told Kicker (h/t Goal's Chris Burton): "You have to be a bit sceptical. It is unlikely that it will work. It's about sums, they're insane."

The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano recently wrote City had rejected an opening bid from Bayern worth €80 million (£70.7 million), but Die Roten could return with an improved offer.

Sportswriter Manuel Veth also reported that Niko Kovac's side have turned to Sane after deciding to cool their interest in RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner:

The German giants have already broken their transfer record to sign utility defender Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid for €80 million, while right-back Benjamin Pavard will join the club from Stuttgart for a reported £31.4 million. 

Hoeness addressed the transfer situation before Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund to lift the DFB-Pokal title in May and said: "We're not playing Monopoly here. We are a football club. We have reached a limit with €80 million, and I don't think that we'll exceed that in future transfers."

That €80 million figure appears set as Bayern's maximum for an individual spend, with one of Europe's savviest outfits seemingly unlikely to break their record for a second time in the same summer.

Sane has shown signs he could be worth the investment, however. He demonstrated his wicked set-piece potential with a strike against Hoffenheim in the UEFA Champions League group stage, via BT Sport (UK only):

The former Schalke wunderkind joined City in 2016 and has played a big role in a team that's won back-to-back Premier league titles under Pep Guardiola, though still perhaps not as prominent as he'd hope.

Sane scored 10 goals and recorded 10 assists in 21 league starts this season. However, there's a sense the likes of Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva sit higher in Guardiola's pecking order, while Riyad Mahrez also provides wing competition.

There were reports in 2018 that Sane and Guardiola had fallen out amid concerns over the player's attitude, which the coach has always denied. 

What's more, Guardiola has been very complimentary of his player, whom he said last year has the potential to become one of the best on the continent, via HaytersTV:

Sane has a contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2021, but even German titans Bayern may not have the power—or more specifically, the funds—necessary to lure their target back to the Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says trying to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City will be financially "very difficult" for the Bundesliga champions.

The Germany international has been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena but Hoeness has poured doubt on whether his club will be able to afford a deal in an interview with Sport Bild (h/t Ryan Benson at Goal).

"I do not have exact numbers yet, but I think that the financial framework is very difficult. The whole package is difficult."

Bayern Munich have made an initial bid of €80 million (£70 million) for Sane, according to the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano:

The German giants have already made some big moves in the transfer market in 2019, breaking their transfer record to land Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid:

The club also announced in January they had agreed a deal to sign France defender Benjamin Pavard from Stuttgart. The World Cup winner will cost around €35 million (£31.4 million), according to Reuters (h/t the Guardian).

Bayern have also been linked with a move for Atletico midfielder Rodri, according to AS (h/t Football Espana). The Bundesliga side are also one of several clubs interested in Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt, according to Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden at ESPN FC.

Hoeness outlined earlier this season how the club was planning a summer of big spending:

Yet it remains to be seen if they have the financial clout to land Sane too. City manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear he wants to keep hold of his young winger:

However, Sane started only 21 Premier League games for the Citizens last season and has been unable to agree a contract extension on a deal that expires in 2021.

The departures from Bayern this summer of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery mean Sane would be almost guaranteed regular football at the Allianz Arena, a factor that could tempt him to return to Germany.

Yet if City were to allow Sane to leave they would surely demand top price for the exciting 23-year-old, which could put him out of Bayern's reach.

Bayern Munich won't sign James Rodriguez on a permanent deal just to use him to raise transfer funds, tactics club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge compared to "human trafficking."

Rummenigge spoke to AS (h/t Darren Wells of the Daily Mirror) about the future of Rodriguez, who has been on loan from Real Madrid since 2017: "That's not the style of Bayern. We don't want to do human trafficking, to push something elsewhere to make some money. FC Bayern has never been that way."

Wells noted how Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are keen on Rodriguez. Their interest offers Die Roten the chance to cash in, provided the Bundesliga champions exercise the option to buy him first.

It's been a tough season for Rodriguez, despite Bayern retaining the German top-flight title and securing the DFB-Pokal. He wasn't shy about expressing his displeasure with the tactics of manager Niko Kovac.

Even so, Rummenigge believes the Colombia international still has value and revealed Bayern are ready to discuss possibly keeping him in the long-term: "We will surely come together next week and we will decide what to do. We must put all options on the table and decide how to handle all those things that aren’t certain yet."

Keeping Rodriguez may not be easy given his difficulties adapting to Kovac. The Croatian had been under pressure, but he's received several votes of confidence since Bayern secured the domestic double thanks to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Among them, club president Uli Hoeness has explained Kovac isn't going anywhere:

Kovac has earned the reprieve after making history during his first season in the dugout at the Allianz Arena:

Regardless of any issues with Kovac, Rodriguez played his part in Bayern's double success. The 27-year-old showcased the vision and flair he produced during spells with Porto, AS Monaco and Real.

Rodriguez became Bayern's creative fulcrum on league duty:

Those attributes might be enough to convince Die Roten to pay the £36 million needed to sign the South American permanently. However, Sky Sport in Germany (h/t Jack Figg of The Sun) has reported the attacking midfielder doesn't want to stay in Munich.

Going back to the Spanish capital may not be the player's next-best option, though. Marca has named Rodriguez as one of the players manager Zinedine Zidane wants to offload this summer.

Rodriguez won't be short of suitors, with Wells identifying Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as other interested parties, along with Liverpool and the Gunners.

A player with Rodriguez's technique and eye for a pass should command a huge fee this summer, but Bayern would be wise to retain his influence.

He could be key in a new-look attack set to develop without the influence of decorated wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus is confident the Bavarian outfit will secure the signature of Manchester City winger Leroy Sane this summer. 

The Bundesliga club have been public about their desire to sign him, per Goal's Ronan Murphy:

Matthaus wrote in his Sky column (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic):

"A player who, in my eyes, will enchant the Bayern fans next year is Leroy Sane. I am sure he will move to Munich.

"If [Bayern president] Uli Hoeness publicly reveals that it makes an effort for the player, this lands in the vast majority of cases in Bavaria.

"And it would be a fantastic transfer, as Sane is one of the best wingers out there. Tricky, dangerous for goal, fast, usable on both wings and provided with a great future.

"[Pep] Guardiola is not really satisfied with him, the player wants to play more regularly and Bayern looks for the departure of [Arjen] Robben and [Franck] Ribery at least one man for the wing. It would be a win-win transfer for all parties."

Sane contributed 16 goals and 18 assists in 47 appearances for City this season, but he played a diminished role compared to the previous campaign.

Last season, the German started 41 matches and played a total of 3,618 minutes, this season he made 29 and played 2,694 minutes.

In City's UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur, he played just seven minutes across the two legs.

Sane has two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, but City could let him leave as early as this summer if he does not sign a new deal, per Goal's Sam Lee:

James Robson of the Evening Standard gave his take on a potential departure for the 23-year-old:

While his contract situation means the Sky Blues have some time to play with, his value will decrease with each window that passes if it remains the same.

Matthaus expects Bayern to splash out to land him this summer:

"Quality always has its price, and Sane is more expensive than the previous record transfer of €80 million (£70.4 million) for Lucas Hernandez.

"He may not be quite as expensive as Neymar, but €100 million (£88 million) is likely. Salary, bonus payments and transfer fees together, become a new record in Bayern's history, but the player is worth it."

Sane is an excellent player with tremendous potential, but if he's not considered a crucial player at City, it could be worth cashing in on him while he remains a valuable asset.

His sale would fund the Sky Blues' pursuit of a replacement, or they could hand a more prominent role to last summer's acquisition Riyad Mahrez—who started just 27 matches in all competitions—and redirect the funds elsewhere.

Jerome Boateng "needs a new challenge," according to Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness. The 30-year-old centre-back has seen his playing time reduced, despite Die Roten winning a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.

Hoeness believes it is time for the Germany international to move on, telling Sky in Germany (h/t Sky Sports): "I would recommend him as a friend to leave the club. He needs a new challenge. Recently he has seemed out of place."

Boateng has two years left on his contract at the Allianz Arena but has found his position threatened by younger talents this season. Powerhouse 23-year-old Niklas Sule has been emerging as a talisman alongside Mats Hummels, while Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba can also play in the middle if needed.

Sule is a powerful figure, but one whose game is based more on calmness, discipline and precise tackling technique than intimidation:

His performances have left Boateng surplus to requirements in key moments. He didn't start Saturday's cup final against RB Leipzig, a game Bayern won 3-0 thanks to a brace from Robert Lewandowski and a Kingsley Coman goal.

For the season, Boateng made just 26 starts in all competitions, including 19 in the German top flight, only half of the league fixtures.

Injuries have been the bane of the former Manchester City man's existence in recent years. A series of illnesses and muscular problems have struck at different times this season, after hamstring issues disrupted his 2017/18 campaign.

Boateng missed the first leg of Bayern's defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 back in February. He only made the bench for the second leg in Munich, a game Bayern lost 3-1.

There is no doubt Boateng is an asset when fully fit. He's a strong presence, quick and agile enough to get tight to strikers, as well as being aggressive in the air.

Those attributes explain why Boateng hasn't been short of suitors. Back in September, he told Bild (h/t Sky Sports) how Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain had shown interest. 

Boateng rejected United's advances then, but he may be more receptive to offers in light of Hoeness' advice. He's only slated to be a Bayern player until 2021, and his playing time is only likely to be further reduced, so this summer may be the perfect time for Boateng to find his next challenge.

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said it's "guaranteed" Jadon Sancho will be at the club next season.

The young winger enjoyed a breakthrough season with Dortmund, as he was a crucial part of the team that pushed Bayern Munich close in the battle for the Bundesliga title. Unsurprisingly, Sancho has since been linked with a number of high-profile clubs.

But Watzke has made it clear the England international will not be available in the upcoming market, per Bild (h/t Goal).

"It can be assumed that Jadon will not play more than 10 years at BVB, but we have clear agreements about the present," he said. "Jadon is not on the market and plays next season guaranteed at Borussia Dortmund."

James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph reported in March that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were prepared to go head-to-head for the transfer of the 19-year-old this summer. In the piece, it's said Sancho is valued at around £100 million.

Dortmund have cashed in on some major assets in recent years, including the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, the club's recruitment strategy has allowed them to remain competitive in Germany.

Getting young players in like Sancho has been vital to that process, as he's developed into one of the most exciting prospects in European football. Squawka Football shared the numbers behind his exceptional 2018-19:

One of the standout parts of Sancho's game is his invention and composure in the final third. This delightful assist in a clash with Schalke was one of the highlights of the campaign:

What makes Sancho special is his ability to mesh that ingenuity with his physical gifts. The Three Lions starlet is one of the quickest players in the Bundesliga, while his agility and balance make him difficult for defenders to pin down.

His stock only appears set to rise in the coming months and years.

The club appear serious about challenging again next term too, as they've already wrapped up the signings of Nico Schulz, Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt. German football journalist Archie Rhind-Tutt thinks Sancho might have to fight for a spot in the XI in 2019-20:

Still, despite his tender years, Sancho was influential in the German top flight last season and is already among the best players in the division. If he links well with Hazard and Brandt, Dortmund will have an attack to be feared by domestic and European rivals.

Provided he continues on an upward curve, the interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs will not go away.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the club will try to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City this summer amid speculation the German champions have made an €80 million (£71 million) offer for the winger.

Speculation has been intensifying regarding Sane's future at the Etihad Stadium, as he lost his place as a first-team regular in the final weeks of the campaign. City boss Pep Guardiola has also spoken of how the club have sought to tie the German forward down to a new contract but to no avail.

Bayern are one of the teams linked with a move for Sane, and when asked about the prospect of a move for the City man at a Bild event on Friday (h/t Adam Shergold of the MailOnline), Rummenigge said there is interest.

"We will try," he said. "I can't promise whether it will succeed. We already had the idea when he was still with Schalke. But at that time we did not have a guaranteed regular place for him. [Arjen] Robben and [Franck] Ribery were top of the top three years ago."

According to Sky Germany (h/t football journalist Ronan Murphy), the Munich giants have made a substantial offer to sign the player already:

Rummenigge denied there has been an approach yet, though, saying "there have not been any talks so far."

Bayern have already made significant moves in the transfer window, with defensive reinforcements set to arrive in the form of Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. 

However, with Ribery and Robben in their last season with the Munich giants, manager Nico Kovac may feel he needs reinforcements in the wide positions.

The wingers have been tremendous players in a dominant spell for the Bundesliga giants:

Kovac has Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry available to him already, but Sane represents an upgrade on both.

The City man has enjoyed a rapid rise under the guidance of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. The 2017-18 term was a breakthrough one for the former Schalke man, as he shone in a team that earned a record 100 points in the Premier League and was later named PFA Young Player of the Year.

Sane has played his part in 2018-19, too, as the team have romped to a domestic treble. However, Guardiola has kept him on the bench for some key games, prompting questions as to whether Sane is totally trusted by the coach.

City writer Richard Burns would be sad to see the 23-year-old go:

Despite the speculation, City want to keep Sane at the club despite interest in him, according to Jonathan Smith of ESPN FC.

In terms of his speed, physicality and productivity, Sane has all the attributes to become one of the best players in European football. It's why, despite the wealth of talent in their squad already, he's a player City supporters would be disappointed to see sold.  

Arjen Robben has revealed he left Real Madrid for Bayern Munich because of Florentino Perez's return to the Santiago Bernabeu but that moving to Bayern was the "best decision" of his career. 

Robben spent two seasons in Madrid before leaving in 2009, the same summer Perez became club president for the second time and signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

The Dutchman told Goal and SPOX's Dennis Melzer and Martin Volkmar:

"It became difficult for me because of the change of president at Real.

"I actually felt very comfortable there and played very well, but when politics come into play and you do not get a real chance, you have to make a decision whether you want to keep fighting or to go and continue your career elsewhere.

"It was not just Ronaldo. Perez returned as the club's president. He then bought Ronaldo, but also Kaka, [Karim] Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

"Real spent so much money, and we were told that they needed to make a bit of money back on outgoing transfers."

Faced with the prospect of leaving, Robben spoke to then-Bayern boss Louis van Gaal and captain Mark van Bommel, who told him to come to Bavaria.

Robben said "the decision was not easy" because of Real's size, but "there was no turning back then."

He continued: "My goal had always been to win the Champions League. I wanted to show that I was good enough. The move to Bayern was the best decision of my career."

The winger, who turned 35 in January, will leave the club after 10 seasons this summer on the back of his seventh consecutive Bundesliga title win and eighth overall.

He and the 36-year-old Franck Ribery, who will also leave, have been forces to be reckoned with in the German top flight:

The pair both scored as Bayern thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt to seal the title:

Robben has also won four DFB-Pokals with Bayern and the UEFA Champions League once. Overall, he bagged 144 goals and 101 assists in 308 appearances.

He could have been a similarly valuable asset to Madrid had he stayed, though it's unlikely Perez will have lost much sleep over the Dutchman's sale given Ronaldo plundered 450 goals in his nine years in the Spanish capital.

Bayern have been steadily less reliant on their wing duo in recent years as they have got older. The club has also recruited the likes of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies, so the German champions won't be without wide options when Robben and Ribery leave.

Nevertheless, the trio have enormous boots to fill, and it will take an incredible effort to replicate their impact at the club.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has talked up Manchester City winger Leroy Sane amid speculation the Bundesliga champions could try to sign the Germany international this summer. 

Lewandowski praised the 23-year-old and said he would improve Niko Kovac's side if he were to swap the Etihad Stadium for the Allianz Arena, according to Goal.

"That's a super player with great qualities and great potential. I've already seen many times how good he is. That's a player who can immediately take us higher, who improves the team."

Bayern Munich have already begun negotiations with Manchester City regarding a potential transfer for Sane, according to Duncan Castles at the Daily Record.

The Premier League champions would like to keep hold of Sane but he has rejected "a series of offers to upgrade and extend a contract," and could be sold to avoid him running down his existing deal, per the report.

Sane moved to Manchester City from Schalke in 2016 and has gone on to win the Premier League and League Cup twice as well as the FA Cup.

The youngster played a key role in City's treble success this season, as noted by Opta:

However, he is not guaranteed a regular place in the starting XI under manager Pep Guardiola. Sane started only 22 Premier League matches last season and just four times in the Champions League.

The City boss has said he wants Sane to stay at the club but has highlighted how long the Citizens have been trying to sign off on a contract extension:

Sane's reluctance to commit his future to the Premier League champions suggests the Germany international could be tempted away, particularly if he is offered regular football elsewhere.

Bayern Munich have spaces in their attack with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery both departing this summer.

Robben is another Bayern player to have praised Sane and highlighted his strengths:

The German champions could prove to be a tempting destination for Sane if he can be lured away from Manchester City.

The Premier League side have made it clear they want to keep him, but unless they can convince Sane to sign an extension then the current uncertainty over his future will continue.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach winger Thorgan Hazard on a five-year contract. 

Hazard, 26, joined Die Fohlen from Chelsea in 2015 but will hope to improve his Bundesliga title aspirations at Dortmund. The club announced the forward's arrival on Wednesday:

The younger brother of Chelsea superstar Eden, Hazard is capable of playing off either left or right flank, and he impressed with a balanced spread of 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 Bundesliga outings this term. 

It's not a great surprise that interest in Hazard was high after another season impressing in the Bundesliga, while Gladbach were also under pressure to sell as he entered the final year on his deal with them.

They posted a tribute to the player after his transfer was confirmed: 

Hazard will look to make up for the loss of United States international Christian Pulisic, who agreed a £58 million transfer to Chelsea in the winter.

Per WhoScored.com, Hazard was in rare company this season when it came to his productivity:

Monchengladbach finished fifth in the Bundesliga this season to qualify for next term's UEFA Europa League group stage. Dortmund, on the other hand, finished a close second to Bayern and will compete in the UEFA Champions League for a third season in a row.

Hazard will return to Europe's elite competition after missing out in each of the last two campaigns. The Black and Yellows will be hoping his encouraging evolution in Germany continues as he approaches his prime years.

Dortmund have already signed Germany left-back Nico Schulz from Hoffenheim, while Bild (h/t TalkSport) reported Bayer Leverkusen's Julian Brandt could also join.

German football writer Manuel Veth spoke highly of the club's early summer business:

Dortmund will tour the United States in their 2019-20 pre-season, and Hazard's first appearance for the club could come in their trip to face the Seattle Sounders in Washington on July 18.