Mainz 05 have decided that Kaishu Sano will only be allowed to leave until around August 27, according to Bild.
The reason is that the Bundesliga club want enough time to find and sign a replacement for the Japan international, who has been linked with Liverpool, Newcastle United and RB Leipzig, among others.
“We won’t sell him on August 31. We still need to be able to react,” Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel told Bild.
According to the German tabloid, Mainz would only consider selling Sano if an offer of around €60 million were to arrive, and there has been no concrete progress towards a potential transfer so far.
Reports from Japan recently claimed that RB Leipzig are in pole position, but the Saxony-based side look highly unlikely to meet Mainz’s demands. A move to a Premier League club with greater financial muscle therefore appears more realistic.
With Sano under contract until 2028, Mainz are under no pressure to sell.
“Of course, an offer could come in that we simply can’t turn down. But we’ll be happy if nothing comes,” Heidel said.