The Senegal international appears to be on the brink of an exit from the German club after his behaviour was slammed by the club’s sporting director Frank Baumann, with Sane accused of going away without leave from the relegation-threatened outfit.
Baumann revealed that the 30-year-old has admirers and he’s expecting the centre-back to leave the club before the end of the transfer window.
A likely destination for the defender would appear to be France, where he previously spent seven years with Girondins de Bordeaux.
FC Metz, in particular, have been heavily linked with a loan move for the defender, having already acquired another former Bordeaux attacker—Cheick Diabate—on loan from Turkish side Osmanlispor.
However, while Sane is likely destined for France, should Premier League clubs not also be considering the centre-back?
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Admittedly, Sane’s recent skirmish with his current employers ought to raise concerns, although the defender will argue that he was absent due to an infection.
At 30, he still has some good years ahead of him should a club wish to acquire him permanently, while the centre-back has already demonstrated his qualities—albeit during a testing campaign for Werder—in the Bundesliga this term.
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Notably, he delivered a memorable display in Bremen’s 0-0 draw away at FC Cologne as the River Islanders snatched a point.
The defender won five aerial battles during that contest, while he also made six interceptions and a whopping 12 clearances during a backs-against-the-walls display.
Sane’s average of 2.4 interceptions per match puts him in the top 30 ball-winners in the German top flight, while only 14 players have averaged more than the defender’s 4.2 clearances per match in the division.
It’s a demonstration of how Sane thrives when the pressure is on, and the likes of Saint-Etienne had been linked with his signature in recent months before ultimately opting for Neven Subotic.
Of sides in the top half, Burnley have a fine defensive record this season—conceding fewer than Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur—but they’d risk being left short at the back should Ben Mee or James Tarkowski pick up an injury.
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Elsewhere, Stoke City may also be in a position to benefit from Sane, particularly with Ryan Shawcross creaking this season, and Kevin Wimmer unconvincing when called upon.
The Potters have comfortably the worst defensive record in the division—they’ve shipped 50 in 24 games—and with Badou Ndiaye appearing to be the only likely arrival, Paul Lambert could do a lot worse than turn to another Senegal international.
Finally, while West Ham United fans won’t thank us for recommending another ageing player, Sane is four years younger than James Collins and Jose Fonte, while Winston Reid remains injury-prone.
Expect the defender to complete a return to Ligue 1 imminently, but until the deal goes through, EPL teams should strongly consider muscling in on a deal to acquire the established stopper on a bargain deal.
