Manchester City will allow Leroy Sane to run down his contract if Bayern Munich fail to match the club’s valuation when the transfer window reopens.
Sane has one year remaining on his deal with the Premier League champions, who grew increasingly exasperated with what they deemed unscrupulous tactics by Bayern last summer.
City maintain they will not be bullied into selling the 24-year-old after reports emanating from Germany claimed the Bundesliga leaders were ready to launch a £35million bid.
That particular evaluation has been laughed off by club sources, who insist Pep Guardiola is happy to include Sane in his squad for next season despite unease over the player’s future.