Schalke winger Leroy Sané. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City is reportedly close to pulling off a £37 million transfer deal with Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04 for midfielder Leroy Sané as multiple reports emerged that the young winger is on his way to the Etihad for a medical on Monday.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder began his senior career with Schalke in 2014 and had been one of its key offensive players after two full seasons with the club. Also coming from the German squad's youth academy, he scored 13 goals in 56 appearances in all competitions for Die Knappen in the past two years.
Sané had reportedly impressed new City head coach Pep Guardiola, who is just coming off his three-year stint with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, during those times in the German top flight competitions and so the Spanish mentor wants him to join his revolution at the Etihad this coming season.
Schalke announced on Monday that Sané is on his way to Manchester to finalize his move to England and that he will not join the team anymore in their "preseason training camp in Austria", as per BBC Sport.
Guardiola had also publicly proclaimed his intention to sign the 6-foot-1 Essen, Germany native this summer, which means that having Sané with the Citizens only needs formality.
According to the report, Sané, who made his international debut for Germany in November of last year, talked with "Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel earlier this summer" and told him that he "wanted to leave the club" and it seems like his wishes had been immediately granted.
Caught Offside indicated that Sané is expected to receive a five-year contract from City and that the transfer fee could reach as much as £42 million (€50 million) including bonuses, which would make him the most expensive player in the German top flight's history.
Guardiola had already signed midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund and forward Nolito from Celta Vigo this summer as the manager aims to further upgrade his roster, but his acquisition of Sané is said to be a "questionable one" because the squad is already full of goalscorers at the moment, the report said.
City's goalscoring options right now includes Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Samir Nasri, and Jesus Navas with Nolito coming in.
