By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Pre-season banter has rarely been as entertaining as the noises emanating in advance of the 24th German Supercup this Saturday evening when Bayern Munich crosses swords with their closest national rival Borussia Dortmund.
The duel between the reigning league champion and the runner up (or cup winner) was invented to awaken the fans' interest ahead of the new Bundesliga season due to start in two weeks.
However, the match had to fight for recognition as it lacked the status of the league championship and the German Cup. Most of the time, the Supercup was little more than an appetiser before the real action began.
This year the Bundesliga's marketing experts couldn't be happier as the fans' interest is approaching that of enthusiasm. The duel between Germany's leading clubs not only is going to be broadcasted in over 200 countries and regions but contains several explosive topics.
Not even rumors about German international Leroy Sane's seemingly impending move to the Bavarians from Manchester City seems to have dampened the fans' anticipation.
Bayern supporters widely accept their club's intention to ignore its self-imposed transfer-limits. The 2013 treble winner is said to be prepared to invest between 100 to 137 million euro to sign its "dream player" as Bayern coach Niko Kovac put it.
The deal is assumed to require an investment of up to 240 million by Bayern, including the player's yearly salary of 20 million over a four or five-year period. The deal will be the most expensive in Bundesliga history.
Manchester City coach Guardiola recently fuelled speculations about Sane departing when admitting the club had unsuccessfully tried to extend the winger's contract for over a year. The Spaniard said the Citizens never have been further away from good news than now. "If he wants to go, just knock on my door, I want players that want to stay," he commented.
Reports speak of advanced negotiations behind the scenes.
Several German media, like the Sueddeutsche, Kicker and Bild, speak about Sane having decided to leave despite his contract that runs until 2021.
Not only Sane is keeping the fans' minds busy after the Blacks and Yellows intention came to light to pose a serious challenge to Bayern in the domestic league.
Never before have Dortmund's officials and its key performers such as German international Marco Reus spoken so frankly about their intention to attack the Bavarians. Never before has Dortmund made such big efforts to improve its squad as in the lead-up to the 2019/20 season.
The 2012 German Champion's most spectacular deal is Mats Hummels. The 2014 World Champion has returned to Borussia after three years in Munich and is expected to help Dortmund break Bayern's seven-year Bundesliga dominance.
Hummel's surprising decision to leave caused criticism at his old club as Bayern coach Kovac claimed the 30-year-old "was afraid of the competition" in Bayern's squad. Hummels refused to comment on the allegations, but tensions remain. Fans expect him to give an appropriate answer on the pitch.
"To speak about winning the title is a logical step for us after last season's achievements," Dortmund star striker Reus emphasized adding Borussia feels ready to give Bayern a hard time this Saturday.
While Bayern's fans are desperately waiting for their club to officially announce the Sane deal, coach Kovac is puzzling over his line up as Javi Martinez, Lucas Hernandez and Serge Gnabry are sidelined due to injury.
Borussia coach Favre demanded patience for his newly-formed squad and is missing the new arrivals Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt and his goalkeeper Roman Buerki.
