Leroy Sane transfer plans take a hit as winger suffers ACL injury

Manchester City's Leroy Sane, a transfer target for Bayern Munich, must undergo surgery on a damaged knee ligament.

Leroy Sane will have surgery on a damaged anterior cruciate ligament, Manchester City has confirmed.

The winger was forced off after just 13 minutes of the Community Shield clash against Liverpool on Sunday after a challenge with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Tests have since revealed he has ligament damage in his right knee, although City did not specified the extent of the injury although any kind of ACL surgery carries a lengthy recovery time.

"He has undergone testing throughout the week, with a specialist doctor traveling to Manchester for further examinations to understand the extent of the injury," City said in a statement Thursday.

"Leroy will have surgery in the coming week. Manchester City will provide Leroy with all the support and guidance he needs, and everyone connected with the club wishes him a quick and full recovery."

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Sane has been heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich, which is eager to sign new wingers after the departures of veterans Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

Head coach Niko Kovac was forced to apologize in July for saying publicly that he was "confident" a deal for Sane would be completed.

It is unclear whether Bayern will now explore alternative targets, having also been linked with Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele and Hakim Ziyech of Ajax.

READ | Bayern Munich denies agreement with Man City star Sane

Sane, who joined City from Schalke in 2016, scored 10 goals in 31 Premier League appearances for Pep Guardiola's side last season.