If the Reds were to buy Leroy Sane, Liverpool’s rivals Manchester City would be in line for a windfall.
In the case that Mohamed Salah is sold to the Saudi Pro League as widely rumoured, Jurgen Klopp’s team is expected to make a play for the Bayern Munich winger next summer.
Sane, 27, is reportedly at the top of Liverpool’s transfer want list, and the Reds may even shatter their own transfer record to sign him.
Sane has already had opportunities to work with Klopp, and Anfield has been mentioned in connection with him before.
But if Liverpool were to make a move, it would indirectly help one of their major competitors. The Manchester Evening News alleged that City included a sell-on clause in the agreement that allowed Sane to transfer to Bayern Munich in 2020.
If the interest is genuine, the discovery is unlikely to stop Liverpool’s ambitions, but it would be a minor victory for City, who hardly need the extra money.
HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD LEROY SANE’S SALE GENERATE FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
This clause, according to the article, is 10%. Uncertainty exists around whether the Citizens would be eligible for a full 10% of the proceeds from the transfer of their former player or instead a 10% profit on the resale.
It is also unknown how much Sane would need to be persuaded to leave Bayern Munich.
The player’s current term with the German champions expires in less than two years, but the report from the Mirror that sparked the rumours suggests the Reds might “smash” their club transfer record to make the deal happen.
Darwin Nuez, who cost £85 million plus add-ons, was the most signing Liverpool has ever made. It seems improbable that FSG will pay more than that for a player who will turn 28 in 2019 and is expected to become a free agent in 2025.
However, if it’s a straight percentage, City would take £9m from the deal if it were a £90 million deal.
Sane’s relocation to Germany in 2020 cost approximately £55 million, so if the 10% solely applies to earnings, City would probably only receive about £3.5 million.
Sane stated in an interview from 2018 that he discussed moving to Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp before deciding to join City.
“Jürgen was calling me too, talking to me. That was before I joined City. He did a good job at [Borussia] Dortmund – I met him when he was there. He’s a good guy, nice guy – honest. He [has] worked well with Liverpool,” he said.
Sane has six goals in seven Bundesliga games to open the 2023–24 season. He is primarily a right winger but can also play on the left.