Manchester City fan favourite linked with sensational Etihad Stadium return following 2020 exit

Bayern Munich and Germany star Leroy Sane has been linked with a potential return to Manchester City this summer, four years after quitting the club for the Bundesliga.

The 28-year-old left Manchester City for Bayern Munich in a £54.8 million move in July 2020, leaving the Etihad Stadium after four years, having initially moved to the Premier League for £37 million from Schalke.

The forward made 135 appearances and won seven trophies with the Sky Blues, but featured just twice during his final campaign at Manchester City after suffering an ACL injury against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield.

Sane scored 39 goals and helped Pep Guardiola’s side to two Premier League titles, memorably scoring the winning goal against Liverpool in a crucial 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in January 2019.

The German international made his Manchester City debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September 2016, and also featured against the Blues in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last season.

Sane has been directly involved in 19 goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances so far this season, and has also featured in eight Champions League matches for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The winger is out of contract at the Allianz Arena in 2025, and is one of several players linked with a potential summer exit from Bavaria.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, the 28-year-old is interested in a potential return to the Etihad Stadium this summer, with the forward wanting to ‘come home’ after four years in Germany.

The forward is the third Bayern Munich star to be linked with a move to east Manchester ahead of the new season, with both Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala widely reported as possible targets.

Manchester City are expected to bolster their squad again this summer, with the both Bernardo Silva and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega linked with possible exits from the club.

The 2024/25 campaign is also currently set to be Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne’s last with the club, with both out of contract at the end of next season.