Manchester City’s worst fears have been confirmed as Leroy Sane requires surgery for a knee injury suffered in their Community Shield victory over Liverpool, claims Bild.
Sane was forced off 13 minutes into City’s penalty shoot-out triumph over Liverpool last weekend and Pep Guardiola’s side have been sweating on test results ever since.
The Premier League champions feared Sane may have damaged knee ligaments and it has now emerged the Germany international requires surgery and will be sidelined for a significant period of time.
Bayern Munich have been heavily linked with a move for Sane this summer but his injury may have scuppered their plans to prise him away from City.
Niko Kovac’s side were already struggling to get a deal over the line due to City’s €150m (£138.5m) valuation but his injury is a hammer blow in their pursuit of the 23-year-old.
Sane has entered the final two years of his current City deal and has refused to pledge his long-term future to the club after dropping down the pecking order last season.
Despite struggling for regular playing time last season, Sane is the only player to register double figures for goals and assists in each of the last two Premier League campaigns.
