Toni Kroos has urged Leroy Sane to stay at Manchester City and snub interest from Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga giants have made no secret of their desire to sign Sane, with president Uli Hoeness leading the public calls for the City man to leave the Etihad.
Sane was also asked about the interest on international duty with Germany earlier this month, after teammates including Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Niklas Sule all suggested he should move to Bayern.
But now Kroos has had his say, telling Bild that Sane should think twice about moving to Bayern, with Player of the Year Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman establishing themselves as first choice wing players.
Kroos also suggested that City's transfer fee demands for Sane would be more than Bayern could afford, and they should simply hold out until the German club drop out of the race.
He said: “If Leroy were to go to Bayern then that would be a huge transfer for Bayern, which has never been seen in this financial context.
"So he has some guarantee of playing regularly, but Bayern have good with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, players in this position.
“I do not think the transfer is going to happen anyway, but that’s just my feeling.
“From Man City’s point of view, I wouldn’t let him go, or at least make him so expensive that Bayern would not pay for him anymore.”
Kroos was openly critical of Sane at the start of last season, saying: "Sometimes you have the feeling with Leroy’s body language that it is all the same whether we win or lose. He has to improve his body language."
