Bayern starts talks with Leroy Sane, as Liverpool consider a sensational deal

In anticipation of intense Liverpool interest, Bayern Munich is starting contract negotiations with Leroy Sane, according to sources speaking with Football Insider.

The 27-year-old attacker is dazzling this season for the Bundesliga champions in a right-flank position while playing in the best shape of his life.

Sane’s contract with Bayern runs out in the summer of 2025, so the club is eager to sign him to a new five-year contract that will keep him there until 2028.

Following Al-Ittihad’s £150 million offer for Mohamed Salah, Football Insider reported that Liverpool considered a sensational deadline day move for Sane.

Despite his own outstanding start to the new season, the Merseysiders were able to hold onto their star player going into 2024, but his future is still in doubt.

Sources claim that Jurgen Klopp is a “huge admirer” of his countryman Sane and has named him as a top-tier candidate to replace Salah.

The Saudi club Al Ittihad has not lost interest in the Egyptian legend and will continue to make efforts to sign him for the upcoming season.

Bayern, who acquired Harry Kane from Tottenham in the summer, are known for closing extremely expensive deals, but Sane’s interest from Liverpool worries them.

After already establishing himself in the Premier League for Man City, Klopp and the Liverpool staff believe he is capable of stepping into Salah’s creative and goal-scoring shoes.

In a rumored £54 million deal, the Germany international left the Etihad Stadium for Bayern in 2020.

In 135 games, he helped Pep Guardiola’s team win two Premier League championships with 39 goals and 46 assists.

In 32 league games, the winger managed 10 goals and 15 assists during the 2017–18 season, which was his best performance in the English top division.

The Schalke youth product had played mostly on the left flank in his career but has had a significant impact this year on the right.

Six of his seven Bundesliga games have resulted in goals, and he also scored for Bayern in their 4-3 Champions League victory over Man United last month.

In other news, Liverpool made a startling move to target Sunderland’s star.

More news…….

I believe Liverpool can challenge for the title if Jurgen Klopp makes a big change

John Aldridge has his say on the Premier League title race in part two of his weekly Liverpool column

The race for the Premier League title seems wide open at the moment.

On Sunday night we saw Manchester City lose to Arsenal, meaning Pep Guardiola’s side suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League for the first time since 2018

City’s problem is that even after this setback they can remain unbeaten for 20 games.
This is what they do.
We can’t take anything for granted because we’ve been here with them before. I think Arsenal are at the same level as us and City are always the ones we have to beat.

However, it no longer seems like it’s another battle just between us and City. Tottenham are doing much better, Chelsea will improve, Arsenal are growing and we have improved compared to last season.

The only team whose situation has worsened is Manchester United.
Man City are not where they have been and Sunday showed that this season will not be so easy for them.

If Liverpool are to realistically challenge for the title, we need to get their defense in order. All good title-winning teams keep clean sheets and we don’t have that at the moment.
We concede too many first goals.

With the teams we have played against and the points we have, I think we are still in a good situation.
We played five of the eight games away from home and the only game we lost was due to bad decisions by the referees.

Mac Allister’s experiment in midfield failed

Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Brighton was further proof that Mac Allister is not cut out as a defensive midfielder, not that we needed another reminder.
I thought the game was made for Endo, but we never saw it.

We had big problems in the first half and we didn’t defend well.
Having a defensive midfielder in the team who knows his stuff isn’t particularly helpful. Brighton were counting on this, especially in the first half.

Mac Allister should be ten meters higher because he is a very good player who gets things done. He will play the role of number 6 because he is asked to, but it doesn’t come naturally to him.
I know people blamed him for the goal, but Virgil put him in danger with that pass right from the start. We cannot take such risks.

I don’t know why we keep starting games so slowly.
In the first half we had five minutes in which we were brilliant, but in the other 40 minutes we weren’t like that. Ryan Gravenberch missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 and should have scored, but I think he did well when he came on and made a big impact.
It could be a shining light for the future.