Pep Guardiola is expecting Leroy Sane to be sidelined for up to seven months with knee ligament damage and has refuted claims that the winger was looking for a move away from Manchester City.
As the transfer deadline for Premier League clubs drew ever closer, a switch to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich was mooted for the Germany international.
Those in Bavaria openly admitted that he would be happy to take the 23-year-old back to his homeland, but discussions never got very far.
Asked for an update on the highly-rated forward’s condition and when he could come back into contention, Guardiola told reporters: “I don’t know. Normally these kind of injuries, six to seven months.
“Hopefully in February or March he can come back with us.”
Guardiola added when quizzed on the Bayern speculation: “I didn’t think he was leaving. He didn’t tell me he wanted to leave, he played the pre-season.”