Manchester United and Manchester City set for summer battle in signing Schalke star Leroy Sane

Manchester United are plotting a move in signing Schalke star Leroy Sane in the summer transfer window. The Red Devils are interested in making an approach for the 20-year-old, but fear they could lose the battle to Manchester City for the forward's signature.

According to Goal.com, the Old Trafford club have been monitoring the German international's progress for a while and are looking to bring him to their club. He is valued to be around €40m (£30.8m, $44.9m) and City are also in the race to land the talented attacker.

Pep Guardiola will take charge at the Etihad from the 2016/17 season and his arrival could help City lure Sane to join them. They have also monitored the player and the ex-Barcelona manager is looking to make the German as his first signing at City, reports the Mirror.

The 20-time English champions signed Anthony Martial from AS Monaco on deadline day of the last summer transfer window. He was 19 when he moved to England and United were criticised for signing the Frenchman as few cited his business as a panic buy.

However, Martial has impressed in his debut season for Louis van Gaal's side and they believe Sane could have a similar impact at United. He has scored 10 goals and registered eight assists in all competitions in the 2015/16 season.

Sane's form for the Bundesliga outfit has seen him make it to Germany's provisional squad for the European championship. Schalke confirmed Christian Heidel will replace Horst Heldt as the club's director of football.

Heldt was adamant the forward will not be allowed to leave in the summer but that has changed after his successor took charge. Heidel admitted Sane could be sold in the summer if there is a bid which is hard to turn down, though Schalke are keen on retaining their crown jewel.

In April, Sane publicly expressed his desire to move abroad and join a club that is bigger than Schalke. He also admitted that he dreams of making a switch to Barcelona at some point in his career.

"I make no secret of this. Some time in the future, I want to play abroad and at an even bigger club than Schalke. Most of all at Barcelona — even as a little boy, that was my dream club," Sane explained, as quoted by Goal.com.