Leroy Sane's Mikel Arteta comments come back to haunt Bayern Munich after contract U-turn

Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane could be set for a sensational return to the Premier League, with Arsenal reportedly on high alert due to his strong relationship with manager Mikel Arteta. The German winger, who previously won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups under Pep Guardiola and then-assistant Arteta at Manchester City, has been in fine form since moving to Bayern in 2020.

However, after five successful years in the Bundesliga, it appears that contract negotiations have hit a stumbling block. Reports suggest that the 29 year old was close to signing a new deal on reduced wages, but a change of agents and a demand for a signing fee have led to a deadlock.

This news has piqued the interest of several English clubs, particularly Arsenal. Arteta and Sane enjoyed a good rapport during their time together at City, and the player's previous comments about the Spanish coach could bode well for the Gunners if transfer rumours are to be believed.

Sky Germany reported earlier this week that Sane was unhappy with the lower-salary contract offered by the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions. The proposed extension would have kept him at the club until 2028, but on reduced wages.

This development came after Sane left his former representatives 11Wins and began working with agent Pini Zahavi.

The London giants Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly on high alert after claims emerged that they could be interested in luring Sane away from Bayern Munich.

Back in 2020, The Independent highlighted the pivotal role Arteta played in Sane's development at Manchester City, revealing that Arteta often took time to 'pull Sane aside' for tactical advice and personal support.

In an interview with the same outlet, Sane praised his former coach: "I can just say positive things about Mikel Arteta. Since we started working together, he has helped me a lot on the pitch.

"He tried to improve my football, he told me what I did good and what I did wrong, and he tried to work on it. Next to Pep, they both really helped me and improved me, to bring me to the next level.

"Even now, at Arsenal, for me, you can see he's doing a great job. You can see he has a concept, a way that he wants to play, a way that he wants his team to play, and obviously, it will take some time until everybody really understands it. I think he will do a great job as a [head] coach too."

Before Sane's Bayern Munich clashed with Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the Champions League in April 2024, the winger lavished praise on his former coach.

Speaking to reporters, Sane reminisced about Arteta's influence during their time at Manchester City: "It was great. I was really pleased to work with him because he helped me a lot at Manchester City," and added, "We had a lot of individual talk about how I can improve my game. What are my weaknesses and strengths?"

He credited Arteta for his swift progress: "Through him, I made quick, huge improvements because of the ideas he gave to me. I still keep them in my mind. If it's about positioning, how I have to behave in certain situations, so I'm pleased for that."

This article was originally produced on Mirror.