United can’t afford to wait long for Sancho
BORUSSIA Dortmund’s selfimposed deadline of August 10 came and went for Jadon Sancho’s move to United.
As far as the Bundesliga side are concerned that’s it, but the reality is, that was never going to be the case.
Placing a date on a deal was merely part of a summer of strategising and politicking for what will be the biggest deal in this window, if it happens.
Dortmund’s deadline was a moveable line in the sand. If United returned tomorrow with the offer the Westphalia side want, then Sancho would be on the next plane to Manchester.
But, right now, that is not going to happen. United fans have become accustomed to the slow pace of business at Old Trafford, yet the strategy they would prefer of paying whatever the selling club wants isn’t exactly designed with longterm success either.
The state of play is that Dortmund still want 120m euro and United still won’t pay that.
For now, we’re in the brinksmanship stage, a battle of wills to see who blinks first.
How badly do United want
Sancho? How badly do Dortmund need to record a significant sale this summer? Time will tell.
But while the saga rolls on, the Reds’ other transfer business is pretty much stalled.
United aren’t immune from the way the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the revenues of clubs around Europe and multiple bigmoney deals this summer are considered very unlikely, with uncertainty still surrounding the return of crowds and matchday revenue.
That makes planning for anything after or alongside Sancho difficult.
If United do finally sign the winger then it will be a successful window, but it will mean the extent of upgrades elsewhere in the squad are reliant on raising funds from outgoings as well.
So, for now, United’s primary focus is Sancho, even if progress is slow, but having seen Dortmund’s deadline come and go they might soon need to consider imposing their cut-off for a deal for the 20-yearold winger.
There is an expectation in most quarters that Dortmund’s hardline stance over their price tag will soften as the summer progresses and they realise United really are the only suitors in town for a player they probably need to sell to balance the books.
But there is a possibility they don’t lower their sights, that the Sancho stalemate ends as just that.
If United continue to pursue him deep into September and fail to land their man, it could wreck the summer transfer window.
They can’t spend the summer chasing a deal only to accept on deadline day it’s not happening.
A swift resolution might be preferable, but right now it doesn’t look likely and United don’t have time to wait forever.