The Hard Tackle looks towards three ideal destinations for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, who is courted by a host of top European clubs.
Jadon Sancho is arguably the hottest prospect in the transfer market right now. The Borussia Dortmund star is being targeted by almost every top club across Europe, including Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Dortmund have remained strict on their asking price ranging from €110 million to €130 million. It could make him one of the most expensive players in the history of football.
However, a jump to a bigger club often trifles the progress of a young individual, mainly due to the expectations from fans and media alike. And here, at the Hard Tackle, we will talk analyse three of the most ideal destinations for Sancho, if he is to further his career after an extraordinary spell at Borussia Dortmund.
FC Barcelona
For Sancho, there is no better time to join Barcelona. The Spanish giants are poised to undergo a major offensive overhaul in the summer, following the failures of both Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. Both the players have already been linked with moves away from Camp Nou, with Chelsea most notably keeping an eye on Coutinho.
Coutinho and Dembele’s potential departures leave Lionel Messi as the only option at right wing. The Argentine is already in the final phase of his career. Sancho, in that regard, could essentially be considered as a long-term replacement for the Barcelona superstar.
A lot, however, could depend on whether or not Barcelona succeed in their pursuit of Neymar. They are unlikely to be able to afford both him and Sancho in the summer.
In fairness, investing in Sancho would perhaps be a better option for Barcelona. Unlike Dembele, the English international has no such immaturity or fitness issues. But more importantly, his pace, trickery and ability to play one-touch football mean he could combine really well with Messi and co.
Manchester United
Manchester United haven’t had much success by spending big on top-class players. The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Angel Di Maria and even Paul Pogba have not really made the desired impact after joining the club for a huge sum of cash.
However, things have changed at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have shown promise under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has somehow been able to provide an identity to the squad that now revolves around young players like Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Sancho could easily fit in with the young brigade of talented British talents. He could join forces with Daniel James on the flanks, with Rashford leading the attack. The Dortmund star also has an excellent relationship with the United attacker, who is hoping that they could play together in the future.
It is also fair to point out that just like Barcelona, Manchester United also lack reliable attacking options. Alexis Sanchez’s days at Old Trafford are likely numbered while Juan Mata is nearing the final phase of his career.
Therefore, Sancho should have no difficulties becoming a first-team regular and hence, a move to Old Trafford could indeed make sense, although it might irk the Manchester City fans.
Borussia Dortmund
It is almost needless to point out that Borussia Dortmund is the ideal destination for Jadon Sancho right now. The 20-year-old has, no doubt, lit up the Bundesliga with his incredible performances week in week out. However, he still lacks some aspects of his game, including his poor shooting and lack of temperament.
Staying another year at Dortmund, in that regard, could help him improve as a footballer. He has already built a remarkable understanding with the likes of Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and Erling Haaland. These players are more than capable of giving Bayern Munich a run for their money next season.
Moreover, Dortmund, as a club, have improved a lot as far as their ambitions in the transfer market are concerned. They will be more than ready to provide Sancho with a respectable wage. And with the Black and Yellows also offering regular Champions League football, staying put might just be the best option for Sancho this summer.
