Manchester United need to achieve qualification to the UEFA Champions League for the next season, if they are to sign primary transfer target Jadon Sancho.
As per an exclusive report from the Daily Mirror, Manchester United sealing a top four spot will be key to their hopes of signing Borussia Dortmund starlet and England international Jadon Sancho in the summer transfer window.
The teenage winger has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the game in the past couple of years. Having burst on to the scenes at the Manchester City academy, Sancho made waves when he joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017, where he has been a huge hit.
Sancho made just 12 first-team appearances in his debut campaign in Germany, scoring one and setting up four more, but has been absolutely sensational this time out. So far in the 2018-19 term, the 18-year-old has featured in 30 matches in all competitions, netting eight goals and assisting 13 more, acting as one of the chief driving forces behind Dortmund’s Bundesliga title push.
Sancho’s rapid growth saw him break into the England national team last October, with the teenager making three appearances for Gareth Southgate’s side till date. And his rise to prominence has reportedly put Manchester United on high-alert, with the Red Devils keen on boosting their attacking department.
The lack of a natural right-sided winger has been a problem for Manchester United for a while now, with the Red Devils having to use the likes of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata out on the right-side, neither of whom provide the natural width. And they are hoping to address that issue with the signing of Sancho in the summer transfer window.
However, for Manchester United to realize their ambition of signing the 18-year-old, qualification to the UEFA Champions League for the next season will be an absolute necessity. Dortmund currently sit at the top of the Bundesliga table and despite a recent stutter in form, are sure to make it through to Europe’s premier footballing competition.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have spent most of the season out of the top four in the Premier League. They are currently stationed in the fourth spot, occupying the place for the first time since last August, following their 0-3 win against Fulham earlier this month.
With Arsenal and Chelsea just a point behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, Manchester United have a battle at hand to keep hold of the fourth spot and qualify for the Champions League.
Dortmund have maintained that Sancho, whose contract runs till 2022, is not for sale, but the report from Mirror claims that an offer around the £100 million mark would prove too hard to turn down for the German league leaders. It remains to be seen if United come up with an offer for the 18-year-old, but first and foremost they will need to ensure safe passage through to the Champions League.
