Europe: United May End Pursuit of Sancho

According to the UK’s daily Star newspaper, Manchester United are seriously considering dropping their interest in #1 transfer target Jadon Sancho.

The Red Devils continue to be frustrated by Borussia Dortmund’s steadfast refusal to reduce their £108m valuation on the player.

United’s valuation in these Covid times is closer to £80m and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, not by any means a successful transfer negotiator, believes the German club are determined to hold United to ransom.

Woodward was however successful in acquiring Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £40m, a benchmark he uses to suggest the price for Sancho is too high.

The transfer window closes on October 5 and United could now turn to Juventus’ Douglas Costa or Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix. Even Gareth Bale has been mentioned, but this is not likely to be an option that excites Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. Two years ago maybe, but not at the current time, as Bale sits twiddling his thumbs in Madrid.

The player himself seems fine with all the transfer speculation and appears to favour a move back to England, some reports even suggest he’s agreed personal terms with United.

However if he is to stay another year in Dortmund, Sancho doesn’t seem to be too put out by that prospect either. He seems to enjoy life in the Rohr Valley.

If Dortmund are not in need of the money and decide to keep the player another year before cashing in, they are perfectly at rights to do so.

There’s certainly a game of brinkmanship going on between the clubs at the moment. Should United actually go ahead and declare their interest in the player dead, it may well not be the end of the saga.

Just the latest move to try force the Germans to adjust their posture on the player’s immediate future.