Leroy Sané has received a firm ultimatum from Bayern Munich regarding the contract offer the club made him, according to Sport Bild. The 29-year-old winger initially appeared close to reaching an agreement, but then teamed up with an agent who is not well-regarded by the Bayern hierarchy.
Leroy Sané’s future at Bayern Munich has entered a tense and unpredictable phase. The 29-year-old winger, whose contract expires on June 30, had been in ongoing negotiations with the club over a renewal.
For weeks, all signs pointed to a successful agreement. Bayern had put forward a three-year deal that aligned with their new wage policy a structured salary reduction with no signing bonus, as part of their broader efforts to cut down on player wages. Despite these reductions, the offer would still have positioned Sané among the better-paid players at the club. Sky reported the deal would earn him between 14 and 15 million euros per year, while Sport Bild mentioned a fixed 10 million plus five million in bonuses. Club officials, including sporting director Max Eberl, confirmed publicly before the match against RB Leipzig that the deal was nearly done. Sané’s previous management team had reportedly reached a general agreement, and the contract extension was expected to be finalized soon.
However, that optimism quickly evaporated after the match. During a private team event on the night from Saturday to Sunday, Sané informed Bayern’s hierarchy that he had dismissed his former agents and had decided to appoint Pini Zahavi as his new representative. Zahavi, an 82-year-old Israeli agent with a long and controversial history in European football, immediately reignited tension at the club. The Bayern board had not anticipated this switch, and many within the club were caught completely off guard. While president Herbert Hainer attempted to downplay the situation on Monday, saying that the agent switch was not necessarily a problem, there was clear unease behind the scenes. Uli Hoeness, Bayern’s former president and still an influential figure at the club, once described Zahavi as a “money-grabbing piranha” in 2019, when he represented David Alaba during his tense departure from Bayern. Zahavi’s involvement is widely viewed within the club as a complication rather than a help.
Sané’s dissatisfaction reportedly stemmed from specific elements of Bayern’s offer particularly the absence of a signing bonus. According to reports from Sky, the winger felt he was being unfairly treated when compared to his teammates. He had seen players like Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala receive significant signing bonuses in their new deals, with both reportedly receiving sums around the 20 million euro mark. Sané, who considers himself a key figure in Bayern’s attack and a regular international for Germany, expected similar recognition. His frustration grew as negotiations progressed, and the agent switch appears to have been a direct result of that discontent.
Bayern’s leadership responded quickly and firmly. According to both Sky and Bild, the club issued a clear ultimatum: Sané had ten days to accept the offer already on the table. The deal would not be revised, and no further negotiations would take place. The message was unambiguous Bayern would rather let Sané go than be drawn into a lengthy negotiation led by Zahavi. The club is determined to avoid another scenario like the one with Alaba, where protracted discussions and outside pressure led to a key player leaving on poor terms.
Sané, meanwhile, finds himself at a crossroads. While he remains a key part of Bayern’s plans on the pitch and is expected to feature again in the upcoming Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, May 10, the uncertainty around his contract could begin to affect his role. His performances this season have been mixed brilliant at times, inconsistent at others but his raw ability, experience, and status as a regular German international make him a valuable asset.
If the standoff with Bayern is not resolved, a departure this summer becomes highly likely. Reports suggest Sané is open to a return to the Premier League, where he previously enjoyed success with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. A move to London is said to appeal to him both professionally and personally, as he frequently spends time there outside of football. Arsenal’s interest has already been reported in several outlets, with Mikel Arteta reportedly a fan of the player’s profile. Chelsea are also a possibility. The London club is considering adjustments to its squad this summer, and the potential departure of Christopher Nkunku who, incidentally, is also represented by Zahavi could open up a natural role for Sané.
The next few days will be crucial. Bayern will stand by their ultimatum, and Sané must decide whether to accept reduced terms without a signing bonus or test the market as a free agent. Whichever route he takes, the outcome will carry major consequences. For Bayern, losing a player of Sané’s quality for free would be a blow, especially if he joins a European rival. For Sané, this could be a defining moment a chance to either recommit to Bayern’s project or seek a fresh challenge elsewhere, perhaps reigniting his career in England.
The situation is now on a knife’s edge. What began as a straightforward extension negotiation has turned into a power struggle involving egos, agents, and high stakes. Whether Sané stays or goes, this episode will likely shape how Bayern handles contract negotiations with star players going forward and may also determine the next big step in the career of one of Germany’s most talented wingers.
