Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is clear on one thing in his pursuit of Bundesliga hotshot Jadon Sancho - the Borussia Dortmund ace is a top target but the Red Devils are in no rush to get his nod. The Norwegian said his planned signings in the summer will be weighed in carefully, including that of Sancho.
Earlier reports have indicated that the 20-year-old has agreed in personal terms to wear the United shirt next season but the latest update on the transfer talk now suggested the deal could collapse. The money wrinkle has yet to be ironed out as Dortmund seemed adamant on getting the full market value placed on Sancho - to the tune of £108 million.
Just three years back, the young winger jumped from Manchester City to City for a little over £7 million, and the United board thought the increase was simply "unrealistic," according to Sky Sports.
To this end, the buying club has taken the position of dealing with Dortmund and Sancho in a clear and firm perspective. Solskjaer wants the England international to his roster but he is not desperate enough to blow big money like in the past.
As the same report stressed, Solskjaer's side will not be bullied into a deal that the club will likely regret later. If the situation calls for it, United will not hesitate to walk away from the negotiations and look elsewhere.
The club has learned its lesson. When Alexis Sanchez was acquired from Arsenal, the side was forced to make adjustments on the wage structure and it proved to be a miscalculation. The Chilean forward was soon loaned out to Inter Milan and the transfer will be made permanent soon.
Solskjaer is determined not to repeat the same mistake, according to Goal. The manager hinted that in beefing up his lineup for the summer, he will certainly take his sweet time.
"This transfer window is a long one, every transfer takes its course. It is what it is," the United coach was reported as saying.
His statement is in line with the recent clarification from Ed Woodward, the club's executive vice-chairman, that the transfer market this summer will not be business as usual. Woodward said United will pursue signings guided by prudence.
That is why alternative signings are on the list of Solskjaer. One name floating around is that of Kingsley Coman, who like Sancho is a winger and currently plays for Bayern Munich. United can also focus on bringing Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish to Old Trafford.
The bottom line for Solskjaer - he is a fan of Sancho but breaking the bank for the youngster is not an option.
