They’ve been worried he was going to leave since that extension went unsigned. I think the sentiment now is to sell Thiago, Martinez, Tolisso and use those funds for Havertz.
FWIW, The Athletic has an article up on the transfer written by Sam Lee and Raphael Honigstein that says City side was reporting new salary as €22m (over €430k wages) and that on the Bayern end, it’s being reported as only €17m (around €325k wages)
I think the higher number was the agreed to wage before covid shut everything down. Sane switched agents and the new reps negotiated the lower wage. Allegedly, very allegedly, Sané didn’t want to be the highest earner on the team. Again, TIFWIW
The article says €20m was agreed upon pre Covid and the €17m was a new lower number How reliable is Honigstein?
Also, my previous takes into account that Kimmich and Goretzka got all the players, staff and board to forfeit 20% of their wages during the quarantine. They used those funds to keep all the support/facility/stadium staff and drivers on full salary with no cut in hours or pay. Kinda tough to come into a squad with treble and WC winners who are giving up money and demand more than all of them imo
He may have a source with City or Sané. He doesn’t usually have anything Bayern related. That said, Falk and Altschul have been throwing shit at the wall ever since James and Hoeness left. It’s clear they were the sources.
My take is I don’t see why the Athletic would lie, where as I can think of numerous for Bayern to lie about the #
If Alaba is holding out for more money, then maybe that would be a reason. He and Thiago are the only veterans who haven’t extended.
It has bigger implications than that I can’t imagine leadership wants everyone to know Sane is making that money if they get into negotiations with someone like Havertz
Yeah I can see that. I’m actually shocked the Sané deal got done at all. I figured City would tell us to shove the lowball offer and he’d walk after next year on a free, as we’ve seen dozens of players do over the years. I wonder if Thiago not extending had any influence over that. I know they don’t play the same position, but #warchest and whatnot
Last thing the board wants is Sané and Havertz coming in making 400-500k a week and Lewa, Neuer, Mueller all pull a Douglas Costa
I mean, they may have no choice. But for the sake of their money they’re trying to avoid that situation.
I mean Bayern "sources" put out the wrong transfer fee for him so it wouldn't shock me they are trying to put out the wrong wages
City got €60m with 1 year left on the contract for a backup in the covid-19 world? That’s a great deal for them.
I’m surprised that Liverpool hesitated on Werner but are ready to pay a decent fee for thiago but the fact that we know the season will be finished now might make them more confident on the finances. Thiago is a good bit older but fits in well with the continued window of the squad. That is a hell of a midfield if you add him in.
I still can’t see it unless Gini is not signing his extension. We also have other needs (wing, lb) which feel higher priority.
Sam has been all over the place on the FFP stuff but when he actually writes about transfers he’s reliable. The most reliable writer City have. Not trying to defend him, but even if he has a source within City, if they were confident there wouldn’t be a ban, what else does he have to go on? Remember all the reports Gene Smith was confident OSU wouldn’t get a postseason ban?
There are much worse out there than him but he’s not reliable. Fabrizio Romano, and ornstein/some of the others at the athletic are the only guys I trust in the general transfer market. Some teams (matt law at the telegraph for chelsea) also may have a good local journalist or two.
TBH they probably don’t know what the wages are. Our sources have been dogpoo since the #warchest was opened
Honestly it’s probably aces for both sides. Thiago gets the move he wants, board gets a little cash to throw at Havertz and the ultras get their favorite son back in Bavaria. They fucking love that guy
Javi Martinez leaving this summer, after 8 years. Player and board confirmed but it’s been rumored for months. If I had to guess, I’d say he goes back to Spain but there’s a few teams that could use a holding midfielder who can play center back too.
About to be 32 with a lot of miles on those tires, maybe get himself a two year contract somewhere back home