Man City morning headlines as Blues 'identify Leroy Sane replacement'

Here are your Manchester City morning headlines for Wednesday, May 27.

City identify Sane replacement - report

City will target Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey if Leroy Sane departs for Bayern Munich this summer, according to the Daily Mail . 

Sane is out of contract next year and with an extension no closer to being agreed, City will be wary of risking losing the German winger for nothing in a little over 12 months. 

Bayern’s interest in Sane is long standing and the knee injury he suffered in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool at the start of the season scuppered a possible move last summer.

Opinion: How City can topple Liverpool 

After back-to-back Premier League titles and records aplenty, it was never going to be easy for City to achieve a three-peat.

And Liverpool’s spectacular form will likely ensure Guardiola and his side do not claim a third consecutive top-flight title when football in England resumes. 

Injuries have proven costly for City this season, as have issues with consistency, even within games. These are problems that need to be addressed this summer, but there are other steps that must be taken. 

On the field, Guardiola has work to do. Off it, the City hierarchy must get their transfer business right. Then there is the element of good fortune, something which City have often lacked this term. 

Here, we detail the three steps City must take if they are to topple Liverpool next term.

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Newcastle open Stones talks - report

Newcastle United have reportedly opened talks with City over a prospective deal for centre-back John Stones.

According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira , initial discussions have been instigated by the Magpies, who are in the midst of a £300m Saudi Arabia-funded takeover. 

If that is completed, the Telegraph say Rafael Benitez could be brought back to St James’ Park and he is keen to add England international Stones to his defence and Chelsea’s Ross Barkley to his attack. 

Stones has struggled with injury this season and has made only 14 starts for City.