Borussia Dortmund again rejected the latest bid from Manchester United to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford. The offer valued the England international at £91 million, which the German side decided was insufficient, thus closing the door for Sancho's return to the Premier League this summer.
BVB's asking price was at £103 million but the numbers were regarded by United as unrealistic at a time of financial difficulties in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It would seem that the Germans are making it difficult for the deal to push through, which should explain the demands that the Red Devils are unwilling to meet.
The club's general sentiments on the transfer deal were best represented by the latest statement from sporting director Michael Zorc. After refusing to sign on the offers by United, the executive said the door for Sancho's exit from Bundesliga has been closed for the season.
Sky Sports said the Dortmund community shared the same feeling. Sancho's teammates are looking forward to keep working with the 20-year-old winger in the existing campaign. Thomas Meunier declared that as far as he is concerned: "Sancho is staying."
Dortmund supporters are thinking the same way - that the Bundesliga sensational, who is a transfer target by elite clubs in Europe, is not switching sides anytime soon. It might be that Sancho will eventually leave but fans are expecting the player to see through the end of the season before heading to a new destination.
And all these assumptions make sense. The summer transfer window closes in October but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not making headway on what is perceived as his most important signing. It seemed remote now that the completion of the deal is happening.
The situation best reflects the current state of United's transfer strategy, according to Gary Neville. The United legend said his former club is lagging behind rivals in the transfer market, and it's quite embarrassing for Solskjaer the way things are going.
Neville said the United manager seemed caught in a situation where things are not moving according to plan. The Norwegian's job is becoming increasingly difficult because of the situation, the pundit said.
"The Sancho thing is embarrassing. It's been going on now for fourth months," Goal reported the former United captain as saying.
Pointing to the signings accomplished by Liverpool and Chelsea in the past few months, Neville said it was clear that the competition is doing better in the transfer market. The club hero warned there is no way United will win the Premier League title again if the club's recruitment strategy will not see improvements.
