Sport

Bayern set to 'offer Sane the coveted No.10 shirt to lure him back to Germany

Bayern Munich are set to offer Manchester City star Leroy Sane the coveted number 10 shirt as they continue their pursuit of the winger.

The Bundesliga champions have been long admirers of the City winger, who has been linked with a move away for the past 12 months. Bayern have made offers in the past for Sane, however, City have rejected them as they have tried to persuade the German to stay at the Etihad.

In the latest twist in the tale, Bayern are now offering Sane their number ten shirt as part of the deal to lure him back to the Bundesliga, according to Bild.

The number 10 shirt is currently worn by Philippe Coutinho, who is on loan from Barcelona. The Brazilian has had a respectable stint with the German club, but there is little interest to make his move permanent from Bayern.

The infamous shirt has been worn by legends of the past, such as Brian Laudrup, Lothar Mathaus and, most recently, Arjen Robben - who donned the shirt through some of Bayern's most glorious years in recent decades.

Sane has always worn the number 19 since his rise into senior football for Schalke as well as Manchester City and the German national team.

The offer is the latest in a long saga between City and Bayern as the 24-year-old enters the final year of his contract with the Premier League club.

Recent reports suggested that City would be willing to let Sane leave this summer, in order to get a price for him sooner rather than letting him run down his contract and leave for free.

The winger has not signed an extension after months of haggling with the club, in which many believe being a move to buy time to force a move away.