HOW CLOSE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED TO SIGNING JADON SANCHO?
Manchester United have played their cards close to their chest in this year’s summer transfer window. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raised quite a few eyebrows in press conferences during the knockout stage of the curtailed UEFA Europa League when he spoke about not feeling the need to strengthen his squad, but there was always a hint of scepticism that has been attached to everything that the Norwegian says. Solskjaer’s way of dealing with nosy reporters is this: better not feed them stories and tell them that the club has no signings planned than give them a name and tear the prospect’s chances apart.
So far, it has worked well for his team, although the frustration and disappointment that has been imminent among supporters, fans, well-wishers and aficionados across the world been largely unnoticed. Manchester United’s supporters demanded at least one big-name signing this summer but there has been no development along that front. Although the club were linked initially to Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho, there has been deathly silence from both the clubs regarding that. Dortmund had apparently given United the deadline of 10 August to approach Sancho, after which they were embarking for their preseason training camp.
However, the men in suits from Old Trafford did not seem to take the Black and Yellows seriously and there was no attempt made to bring the former Manchester City (yikes!) player to the red half of the city. One thing that deterred United from approaching Sancho with a free hand was Dortmund’s exorbitant asking price, which was well in excess of 100m Pounds.
However, had the United hierarchy felt that the 20-year-old would have been a long-term investment and been actually impressed by his performances in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League which have already outshone his more accomplished peers, they would surely have run from pillar to post to make the transfer happen.
So, eventually, it was left to Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc to confirm that the Englishman will remain at the Signal Iduna Park for another season at least.
WHY DO MANCHESTER UNITED NEED JADON SANCHO IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The big question that is on almost every Manchester United supporter’s lips now is this: is Jadon Sancho really worth the inordinate sum demanded for him by the Black and Yellows?
The quick answer will be no, but the long answer can be stretched to a maybe. Dortmund want an excess of 100m Pounds for selling Sancho and although it might feel a bit far-stretched at the moment, there is certainly nothing wrong with the way they look at things and why they feel that the 20-year-old, who is no world-beater at the moment, can be worth so much of money. In the 32 matches he played in the German Bundesliga this season, the young Englishman found the back of the net 17 times. That is more than what most centre forwards manage to do in the Premier League.
Leaving his goalscoring antics aside, Sancho also managed to provide 16 assists. His work rate had been exemplary and he had been heavily influential in the build up and completion of most Borussia Dortmund attacking charges. Patrolling the right wing, Sancho is a fantastic creator and a more than able finisher, who does not get cold feet when he finds himself in front of the net.
He is a complete package and it scary to think that he is only 20 years old at the moment. If his best still lies ahead of him, we are left wondering what might eventually end of the promise that he has shown. All these attributes make him a very attractive option, and therefore, it is no wonder that Manchester United are interested in him.
Even if one were to forgo Sancho’s attacking attributes at the moment, we can change tack to understand why Manchester United need him more than he needs them.
The Red Devils have seen a renaissance of sorts ever since the lockdown was lifted from football and their forward trio of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood combined brilliantly to create some beautiful football.
Although manager Solskjaer has tried playing the youngest of the lot Greenwood in the right wing position, it has, sadly, remained an area of weakness for the side from Old Trafford. Greenwood has done his best to nail the spot down, and it will be unfair to him if we comment that he has not been successful at that.
UNITED ARE EXTREMELY WEAK IN THE WINGS
However, what has to be noted is the fact that Greenwood is moulded more for playing in the centre-forward’s role or the central attacking midfielder’s position. But with Anthony Martial making the former position his own and the latter being snapped up by new Portuguese signing Bruno Fernandes, the young academy graduate has found himself relegated to the wings, with Marcus Rashford patrolling the left-hand side.
United signed Welsh winger Daniel James last season to make up for the deficit they have on the right hand side but he has only been moderately successful. Known widely for his jaw-dropping pace, James has, however, struggled when finding himself in front of the net against a brave goalkeeper. This meant that he lost his place in the side to the young Greenwood, who has done pretty well in that position.
Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard have all been tried and tested on the right hand side of Manchester United’s attack, but none of them have been able to make it their own. Manager Solskjaer had tried virtually every player suited to that role, but had to end the season with the young Greenwood as his first-choice, and it is fair to say that the latter has not disappointed either him or the vengeful fans. A lot was expected of James and his early performances seemed to suggest that he was cut out for this role on the right hand side of United’s attack, but somehow he faded away and allowed Greenwood to cement the place.
WHAT WILL SANCHO GIVE MANCHESTER UNITED AND WHOM WILL HE REPLACE?
On the face of it, if Manchester United are successful in signing Sancho, it might appear that he will take the place of Mason Greenwood in the first eleven.
However, that might not be such a bad thing after all. If either of Sancho or Rashford patrol the wings throughout the season for United, their manager Solskjaer will need the likes of Greenwood, James, Pereira and Lingard to take over when they need a bit of a rest. This will give the Norwegian manager some much-needed depth in his squad as well, and allow Rashford and Sancho to take regular breaks. Although Lingard and Pereira seem to be far-fetched options, Greenwood and James seem perfect for coming in during the latter half of a game.
However, for this argument to materialise, we also have to understand that both Pereira and Lingard have been linked to moves away from Old Trafford in this year’s summer transfer window. Manchester United should not block such moves and instead allow them to leave and flourish elsewhere. Even if Sancho does not arrive in Manchester, it looks difficult for either Lingard or Pereira to regain their first-team places in the squad. They are going to remain as squad players at best, who will get a look-in only if Solskjaer decides to rotate his squad.
Juan Mata may remain in the club after all, as he has been such a faithful servant and wonderful squad player over the last couple of years, but unlike the former duo, he is 32 years old now, and might not be able to visualise a first-team career at any other top-flight club. Lingard, 27 and Pereira, 24 are in the prime of their life and need to look for first-team football elsewhere to further their footballing journey. If the duo leaves, then this will free up the wage bill and give a big impetus to Solskjaer for Sancho’s transfer. It can further be reiterated that these two players need to look for another club even in Sancho does not arrive.
If Sancho ultimately arrives at Old Trafford, he will give Manchester United something that they have been lacking for years- a creative right winger who can also play up front. Sancho will have a dream run linking up with Rashford and Martial in the attacking half and the likes of Fernandes and Pogba in midfield and Manchester United’s fans will be delighted to have him at the club.
The 20-year-old’s creative skills have never been questioned, but it is his impressive work rate which works in his favour all the time. If he ever manages to lose the ball, he is seen as the first to track back and retrieve it. He is going to be great value addition to United’s roster.
However, with Dortmund’s director Zorc emphatically saying that Sancho will not be sold this year to any club, Manchester United’s supporters’ morale may take a huge beating. There is no denying what a wonderful addition he is going to be to the Red Devils, but only time will tell whether the transfer takes place or not.