Guardiola expects Sane to miss '6 or 7 months' after knee surgery

A day after Manchester City confirmed that star winger Leroy Sane is set for surgery to repair an injured anterior cruciate ligament, manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that the Bayern Munich transfer target is set for a long absence.

"It is incredibly bad news," Guardiola told reporters during Friday's press conference. "I don't know (how long he will be out), I am not a physio.

"But with this kind of injury it is normally six or seven months - hopefully February or March," Guardiola added. "He is in the best hands in terms of the surgery next week."

Sane, 23, limped off the Wembley Stadium pitch during the first half of last weekend's Community Shield victory over Liverpool while favoring his right knee.

Prior to the injury, the German international was heavily linked with a Bundesliga return in the summer window. "I'm confident and assume that we will get him," Bayern boss Niko Kovac initially said before backtracking and extending an apology to Guardiola.

The Premier League transfer window closed Thursday, though clubs in England can still sell a player to a Bundesliga side until the German window slams shut on Sept. 2.