Manchester City 'opens talks over new Leroy Sane contract'

Manchester City want to hang on to Leroy Sane and are preparing to hold talks with the German’s representatives over a new deal, Press Association Sport understands.

Sane is contracted to the domestic treble winners for the next two seasons, but Bayern Munich are eager to lure the 23-year-old back to Germany.

The Bundesliga champions will attempt to plug the sizeable gaps that will be created when wide men Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery depart the club over the summer, and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed their interest in Sane.

Sane scored 16 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions this season but has struggled to command a regular starting spot in the last few months.

He was reduced to late cameos in both the finals of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while he started only three of City’s final 11 fixtures.

Yet Sane, who joined from Schalke three years ago for £37million, is clearly still part of Pep Guardiola’s plans going forward and City hope to be able to convince the player to commit his long-term future to the club.

One man definitely on his way out of the Etihad, though, is head of academy coaching Simon Davies, who is following Vincent Kompany to Anderlecht.

Davies has been appointed head coach at the Belgian side on a three-year deal and will work alongside Kompany, their new player-manager.

Davies, who has been part of the City coaching staff for nine years, said on the Anderlecht website: “When Vinny asked me to make the move with him to RSC Anderlecht, I didn’t doubt.

“We are starting a beautiful project – taking RSC Anderlecht back to the place where they belong, with special emphasis on the development of talented young players.”

Anderlecht sporting director Michael Verschueren added: “We hired him on Vincent Kompany’s advice. They have been working together for quite a while and we want to bring Manchester City’s success story to RSC Anderlecht.”
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