Barcelona blow as Liverpool target knocks back Camp Nou move

The future of Leroy Sane remains uncertain with a host of top European clubs waiting to discover whether he will sign a new contract with Bayern Munich. 

Liverpool had been named among the teams keeping an eye on the Germany wide man, along with Chelsea in the Premier League, but the player appears to have already decided one destination he does not want to move to. 

Barcelona had been hoping to add a new winger in the coming transfer window with doubts continuing to linger over Raphinha and the inconsistent form of Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix. 

One option discussed in Catalonia was Sane, who is out of contract in 2025. A report from Sport in Spain this week now suggests that the German has knocked back Barca, with contract talks at Bayern shelved until the end of the season. 

Liverpool, along with Chelsea, had been linked with Sane’s signature earlier this term as the Reds attempt to safeguard against a possible Mohamed Salah departure. 

Salah was the subject of a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad of the Saudi Pro League on the last day of the summer transfer window, which was rejected by Liverpool. 

Nonetheless with the Egyptian out of contract in the summer of 2025, Saudi Pro League clubs are expected to make a new attempt to sign him in summer. 

While Anfield Watch understands that the Egyptian is leaning towards extending his stay at Liverpool, there is talk that the Reds are still looking at contingency plans.

It was reported by Bild in January that Sane would freeze contract talks until the end of the forthcoming European Championship. 

A good performance for the hosts at that tournament could see the 28-year-old hold more cards in negotiations with Bayern as, by that stage, he would only have a year on his deal. 

Sane’s previous agent, Fali Ramadani, possesses good relations with Barca owing to moving another client of his, Marcos Alonso, to the club in 2022. 

But the ex-Manchester City man has since signed with Christian Schmid, who also looks after Bayern’s Jamal Musiala. 

That move could turn Sane’s future in Bayern’s favour, meaning that Liverpool would have to look elsewhere for a Salah replacement if he leaves. 

Sane has been in electrifying form for the German record champions this season, registering eight Bundesliga goals and 11 assists, and is widely seen to be in the form of his life.