Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane, whose contract is set to expire at the end of this month, opening the door for a potential free transfer to the Emirates next summer.
According to The Athletic’s James McNicholas, Arsenal have already held talks with Leroy Sane over a return to the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side is actively pursuing the 29-year-old German international and have opened talks over a pre-contract agreement, fending off competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and interest from Newcastle United.
Sane, who joined Bayern from Manchester City in 2020, has registered 49 goals and 52 assists in 194 appearances for the Bundesliga giants. Arsenal have long admired the winger, valuing his Premier League experience and versatility. During his time at City, Sane won three Premier League titles and established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic wide players, attributes that make him a strong candidate to strengthen Arsenal’s attacking options.
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Sources suggest that Arsenal view Sane as a “dream signing,” especially as a reinforcement on the right wing, where Bukayo Saka has carried much of the creative load in recent seasons. Arteta is reportedly eager to reunite with Sane, having worked closely with him at Manchester City as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.
Leroy Sane - Pep Guardiola - Arsenal
Leroy Sane (Image credit: Getty Images)
Sane’s future at Bayern remains uncertain. Despite manager Vincent Kompany’s desire to keep the winger, contract extension talks have stalled. According to Sport Bild, Sane is frustrated with inconsistent playing time, especially following Bayern’s signing of Michael Olise, which has limited his opportunities. His current campaign, just one goal and one assist in seven Bundesliga starts, marks a drop from the 10 goals and 12 assists he tallied in the previous season.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly leading negotiations, with the club prepared to offer a lucrative package that includes a lucrative signing-on fee. While Tottenham are also in the running and have begun preliminary talks, Arsenal’s financial stability and Arteta’s vision may give them the edge. Newcastle remain interested but are not currently as advanced in discussions.
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Sane’s preference for a return to the Premier League further boosts Arsenal’s chances. Though European heavyweights like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest, sources suggest the winger favors England as his next destination.
Arteta sees Sane as a valuable addition who can operate across the front line—either cutting inside from the right, playing as a No. 10, or filling in on the left. His arrival would provide crucial depth and allow more rotation for key attackers like Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard.
However, there are still hurdles to clear. Bayern are reportedly offering Sane a one-year extension with an option for another, as per The Mirror. Additionally, his wage demands, believed to be around £330,000 per week could prove challenging, though Arsenal are said to be exploring a performance-based structure to meet his expectations.
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