Manchester United's pursuit of Jadon Sancho has dragged on but the transfer deal is still set for completion this summer, as far as Old Trafford is concerned. Despite the statements from Borussia Dortmund that the winger will stay in Bundesliga, the Red Devils will continue to convince Sancho to switch sides.
Journalist Dharmesh Sheth said negotiations are still ongoing between United and Sancho's camp, which should tell that there is still a chance the 20-year-old will sign a deal before the summer transfer window closes in October.
Sheth acknowledged that the talks run in counter with the pronouncement made by Dortmund recently, the England international will finish his contract, which runs until 2023, with the German side.
For United, however, the plan is to work on the personal level and get Sancho to give his go signal then submit a formal bid to Dortmund. This is in line with earlier stance made by United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - that the Bundesliga sensation is a priority signing.
"As far as Man United are concerned, he remains the No. 1 target - they do want to bring Jadon Sancho to the club - I don't think that it is completely dead," Sky Sports reported Sheth as saying.
It would seem though that the deal is headed for collapse as Dortmund insisted that Sancho will only get his release upon payment of the transfer fee. The Germans have set the asking price at £108 million and made clear no discounted will be provided even with the COVID-19 pandemic still in effect.
On their part, United took the position that the value placed on Sancho is unrealistic. If Sheth is to be believed, the Premier League giants are hoping to get a better deal once the signing target has agreed to leave BVB.
And playing for United appeared to be the only course in the future for the London native. According to Express, Sancho is expected to push for his exit from Bundesliga following his 12th cap for England in the UEFA Nations League.
The young star was just waiting for this milestone in his international career, which the report said is connected to his contract incentives. Now that that condition for the bonus to be collected has been met, Sancho is deemed more willing to discuss business with the United board.
The arrangement is known to United, which should explain why the club remains confident that the rising football star will eventually make his way back to England.
Sancho made a huge splash in Bundesliga last season by scoring 17 goals and making 16 assists in the 32 games he played in Germany alone. The numbers further boosted Solskjaer's confidence on the winger - that the youngster will figure prominently on United's future campaigns in England and Europe.
