Bayern Munich are increasingly confident of signing Manchester City's thrilling young winger Leroy Sane this summer.
Twelve months ago, such optimism would have ridiculed given that Sane had just been voted the PFA Young Player of the Year and was tipped to become one of the best in the world.
But the wind appears to have changed direction at the Etihad. Sane, whose troubles seemed to start when he was left out of Germany's World Cup squad last summer, has been sensational during parts of City's Treble season but untrusted by Pep Guardiola in others.
He has fallen behind Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez to become City's fourth-choice wide player in Pep's preferred 4-3-3.
His last full 90 minutes in a City shirt came on April 3 against Cardiff when he scored in a 2-0 win. Since then, the only goal he has scored was coming off the bench at Manchester United.
Of the three big final games that saw City make history, Sane started none of them against Leicester, Brighton and Watford. With Guardiola wanting to strengthen further and financial fair-play restrictions coming into play, 23-year-old Sane looks an asset they can cash in on.
Bayern, who saw both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery play their final games for the club last weekend, are willing payers.
Why has it come to this for Sane whose electrifying pace and cool image were a win-win for City on and off the pitch when he joined from Schalke for £37million in 2016?
Even in an indifferent season, he carries end product. Ten goals and 10 assists from 21 Premier League starts (with another 10 appearances as substitute) is impressive. In total, he created 40 chances in those games.
'He's a player who has everything you need to be world-class,' said Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, who knows what he's talking about given he's won the World Cup and multiple Champions League titles.
But it was also Kroos who first raised the question whether Sane has the mentality to go with his Rolls Royce movement. You have the feeling that it is all the same whether we win or lose.'
For the notoriously intense Guardiola, such an issue is difficult to understand. He loves players like Sterling and Bernardo who, besides their natural gifts, fight for every ball, tackle back and are consistent.
Sane can speed past full-backs but he can also lose the ball and break City's momentum. His crossing accuracy is low. He's a young player but doesn't seem to have yet worked out judging when to play the ball simple and when to try his tricks.
'I am so demanding of him and sometimes I like to be critical of him,' says Guardiola, suggesting he sees Sane as a player who benefits from the stick rather than the carrot. But with only two years left on his deal, the player is in a strong position and if he doesn't like being left out, or pressurised, City may have to sell rather than let the contract run down.
Undoubtedly, he is a player for the big moments, a stunning free-kick to turn around a Champions League tie at former club Schalke, the well-placed finish at Old Trafford that sealed City's win in the Manchester derby and thereby removed the biggest obstacle to retaining the title.
And yet there are question-marks whether he shares the obsession that Guardiola has for winning. Sane is keen on social media – like most players of his generation – but that can be used against him when things aren't going so well. When he was left out of the World Cup, he posted saucy pictures of himself and his girlfriend on holiday in California while his countrymen were struggling in Russia.
He tried to look as jubilant as everyone else when City celebrated their Treble at Wembley and he shared a hug and chat with Guardiola. But it doesn't explain why he barely started half of City's league games.
One thing is for sure, City fans will mourn the loss of Sane if he does go back to Germany. City have built a ruthless winning machine and the artistic angles of some of their passing is a joy to behold.
But there is nothing to replicate the excitement of seeing a beautifully-balanced winger running at speed, leaving defenders behind with seemingly effortless ease.
That's what Sane has provided frequently in his three years in England. Unfortunately for City, it may be on display in Munich from next season.