Still on a mission to build a core talent of youngsters, Manchester United will spend big to ensure that young sensations Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland will join the Red Devils as early as January next year. The head-hunting will cost Old Trafford an estimated £185 million and it seemed the money is no problem.
United's Ed Woodward is said to be willing to write the check and the fund, according to Goal, will be readily available once the two hotshots signed the agreement that will seal the transfer.
Woodward saw the window of opportunity to lure Sancho when the England international had a reported falling out with Lucien Favre, manager of the 19-year-old's current team, Borussia Dortmund.
The English sensation returned late from international duty, which earned him a fine from Favre. Also, the Dortmund boss dropped Sancho from the first-team, and Woodward has reasons to believe the youngster will want to get out of Bundesliga.
Another thing that could attract Sancho to Old Trafford is the promise of having more exposure at the Champions League. Woodward would want to expedite a deal with the teenager and convince him that the Red Devils will make the final four of the competition.
As for Haaland, United is sold on the prolific striker who so far netted 22 goals in 18 games. Metro said bringing the Norway international over to England will setback Woodward no less than £85 million and the executive vice-chairman would not mind.
Woodward is so sure that Haaland's team, the Red Bull Salzburg, will allow the transfer to take place because the goalscorer will be loaned back for the balance of the season. But first, he will need to ink the offer sheet coming from United.
In the event Sancho and Haaland sign up with United, Goal said Woodward will move to scuttle the plan to recruit Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic and West Ham's Declan Rice. The Croatian is thought to be eyed by United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a one-season deal to give the club a shot of veteran blood.
Rice, on the other hand, is also targeted for a January transfer. The choice, however, was criticized by former United captain and now pundit Roy Keane. Keane said that while Rice is popular with fans, he lacks football intelligence.
A successful signing of Sancho and Haaland will see the Red Devils passing on Mandzukic and rely instead on the club's young forward line. Likewise, Rice joining United will likely be moved from January to the summer of 2020.
