Manchester United are reportedly willing to wait till next summer to land top target Jadon Sancho, instead of looking for a stop-gap solution in January.
As per a report from the Evening Standard, Manchester United are prepared to wait till the next summer transfer window to boost their attack with the signing of Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho rather than looking for a quick fix in the January window.
Manchester United sold star striker Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan without signing a replacement for the Belgian. They have now lost Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez as well, who has also joined the Nerazzurri on loan for the rest of the season.
This has left manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer short on options in the attacking department, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial being the only two senior strikers in the ranks, while academy prospect Mason Greenwood will serve as a backup.
With Martial picking up an injury in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last week, there is a chance that the Red Devils’ shortage of options would be exposed when they face Southampton this weekend.
The right flank problem also continues to plague Manchester United, with new signing Daniel James much more comfortable on the left, as are both Rashford and Martial when not playing as the team’s No. 9. Jesse Lingard is woefully out of form and Diogo Dalot is injured, leaving Juan Mata as the only viable option for Solskjaer on the right wing.
This situation needs to be addressed by Manchester United at the earliest. But, as per the report, the club are prepared to wait till next summer to do so, instead of making any transfers in haste in January with the manager making Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho his priority target.
Sancho has been making the headlines for all the right reasons since his move to Dortmund from Manchester City a couple of years ago. The 19-year-old enjoyed a spectacular 2018-19 campaign, scoring 13 goals and assisting 19 more in 43 matches in all competitions, almost firing Dortmund to the Bundesliga title.
On the back of his scintillating form, Sancho broke into the England national team and has already collected six caps for Gareth Southgate’s side. The winger has made a blistering start to the 2019-20 season as well, already scoring and assisting three goals apiece in four games in all competitions.
Sancho had emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United this summer, with Solskjaer keen on splashing the cash on the teenager. However, Dortmund’s refusal to sell one of their most important players meant there was little chance of a move materialising.
Since then, Sancho has gone on to sign a new contract worth about £190,000-a-week with the Bundesliga giants. But, that has not dissuaded Manchester United, who are planning on going all out to land the Englishman next summer.
Dortmund were believed to value Sancho around the £100 million mark and another strong season this time out should definitely see that valuation increase. It will be interesting to see whether Manchester United are willing to match that valuation come next summer as they look to bolster their attack.
