Manchester United priority signing Jadon Sancho is proving a tough mission for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the new Premier League season has started and the Borussia Dortmund ace remains out of reach. If the drag will continue, the Red Devils are advised to drop the deal in favor of other signings like Jack Grealish and Gareth Bale.
While Sancho has reportedly agreed on personal terms to join United in the ongoing campaign, the deal is yet to be finalized due to the disagreement on the transfer fee demanded by Dortmund. The Bundesliga side has made clear that the deal will get over the line upon payment of £103 million and no less.
However, Ed Woodward, United executive vice-chairman, said to be unwilling to spend that much on a single player. The official has set the limit on £80 million and is ready to walk away if the Germans will not give a discount, the Express reported.
Offering his advice, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said United's cash is best spent elsewhere. He pointed out that what Sancho will bring to United the club already has because of Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford.
"All of them players we mentioned are like Sancho, they have pace and are a threat when teams play a high line against them," Sherwood was reported as saying.
But he also made clear that if money is not a problem, then the signing of Sancho will certainly be a boost to the United roster. Sherwood acknowledged that the 20-year-old England international is certainly a good player and it's best for a club to have such quality on their side.
It would not hurt too for Solskjaer to look for alternatives and Grealish should be considered seriously. The Aston Villa captain is a target as well by the Norwegian manager but negotiations between the two sides stalled, also on transfer fee disagreements.
Sherwood said he sees on Grealish delivering the same gameplay seen with Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese opened the door that allowed United to execute excellent plays on the pitch and Grealish will do the same when he becomes part of the Red Devils.
"I would ... go for Jack Grealish, he can open the door, he's another Fernandes and gives them another quality that they need," Talk Sport reported the pundit as saying.
Solskjaer should also take a second hard look on Bale, who has been struggling to get playing minutes under Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.
"I think he [Gareth Bale] has a lot to offer and I think he will flourish for a couple of seasons if he goes to Manchester United," said Sherwood.
Bale staying on the sidelines in La Liga will waste away the player's talent and Sherwood said the four-time Champions League winner needs to play football again, which he can do by returning to the Premier League.
