Leroy Sane is closing in on his long-awaited return for Manchester City .
Sane, 24, has been out since the start of the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee in the Community Shield against Liverpool .
The winger has stepped up his recovery, training alone and doing ball work, and is expected to join his team-mates for full training by the end of the month.
Although no definitive date has been targeted for his return, the Germany international could return for City’s trip to Tottenham on February 2.
But a more likely date is February 22 against Leicester , which comes after City’s two-week winter break, allowing Sane more time to fully recover before making his return.
(Image: Getty Images)
City hope to have Sane, who is wanted by Bayern Munich this summer, available for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie away to Real Madrid on February 26.
The Blues slapped a £135million price tag on Sane when Bayern tried to sign him last summer, to deter them although the injury ultimately scuppered any deal.
But with just 18 months left on his contract, the German club are likely to be able to land him for significantly less than that, with City boss Pep Guardiola admitting Sane’s future is out of his hands.
City want Sane to stay and have offered him a lucrative new contract extension, but so far the player and his representatives have failed to accept the new deal on offer.
It also looks like Pep Guardiola will stay at Man City past the end of the season after reports emerged the Spaniard would honour his contract at the Etihad.
Speculation had been rife the 48-year-old would leave in the summer, with a return to Barcelona or Bayern Munich previously mooted, but it seems Guardiola will remain at the Etihad next term.
