Liverpool transfer rumours: Schalke confirm Reds bid for youngster Leroy Sane

LIVERPOOL embarked on a transfer spending spree, but there is one target they missed out on — a star in the making who is creating waves in the German Bundesliga.

Schalke's midfielder Leroy Sane celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 v Eintracht Frankfurt in Gelsenkirchen, on September 23, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. ==RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT THE DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050.

SCHALKE’S director of sport Horst Heldt has confirmed Liverpool’s interest in Germany Under-21 forward Leroy Sane and revealed the Premier League side submitted a bumper offer before the season.

“There are already one or two big-name clubs who have expressed interest. Liverpool were ready to pay for him,” said Heldt of the interest in the 19-year-old.

According to magazine Sport Bild, Liverpool offered €15 million (AU$24m) for the fleet-footed teenager who has scored in each of Schalke’s last three games and has a contract until 2019.

“The offer didn’t interest us or the player,” insisted Heldt. The son of ex-Senegal international Souleyman Sane has made waves in the Bundesliga with a series of eye-catching performances off the bench and he scored a superb goal at Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.

He was part of the Schalke team which won the Under-19 German league title and made his Bundesliga debut for the senior team in 2014.

He scored the winning goal in Schalke’s 1-0 victory over Hamburg last weekend which left the Royal Blues third in the table.

Leroy Sane shoots during the Europa League game v APOEL.

“From the potential he is showing, Leroy has a big career ahead of him and is on the right path,” said Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter.

Sane, who can play as a striker or winger, was already being courted by Europe’s top teams as a 17-year-old when Ajax made a five-million-euro offer for him.

Having sold Germany international Julian Draxler to Wolfsburg before the last transfer window closed, it looks like the Royal Blues face a battle to keep another one of their rising stars.

Originally published as Liverpool transfer rumours: Schalke confirm Reds bid for youngster Leroy Sane