Manchester United remain keen on signing Jadon Sancho but are prepared to walk away from negotiations unless Borussia Dortmund lower their £108m valuation
Thursday 10 September 2020 13:32, UK
Manchester United have made a breakthrough in their efforts to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, Dharmesh Sheth told The Transfer Show.
United are not giving up on trying to sign Sancho - who is valued at £108m - despite Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc insisting the 20-year-old winger will not be sold in this window.
However, despite the Bundesliga club's stance, during the last 24 hours progress has been made between United and Sancho's representatives on the issues of agent fees and personal terms.
"I've been speaking to somebody close to a potential deal involving Jadon Sancho to Manchester United and in the past 24 hours there have been developments and potentially good news for Manchester United fans, because the issues of agent fees and personal terms, I've been told, are no longer a problem," Sky Sports News reporter Sheth said.
"Manchester United are remaining tight-lipped on these developments but it's clear that some good progress has been made on overcoming the problems of agent fees and wages.
"We understand that United remain very resolute and determined to not overpay for a player given the realities of the coronavirus pandemic, but given that this was the issue for the past two or three weeks that Manchester United weren't making a bid because they needed to sort out agent fees and personal terms for Jadon Sancho, this appears to be some sort of a breakthrough.
"It's our understanding now that the agent fees and the personal terms are not going to be a problem anymore."
United's chances of convincing Sancho to come to Old Trafford will have been enhanced by securing Champions League qualification, but they also view Dortmund's €120m (£108m) valuation for the player under the current coronavirus conditions as "unrealistic" for someone who the German club themselves signed for £7.2m three years ago.
The club are also unwilling to break their wage structure for the England international following the unsuccessful transfer of Alexis Sanchez.
United have completed big-money moves for Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes in the last two transfer windows but feel the environment for deals has shifted since the coronavirus pandemic - with fees reflecting the tough financial conditions.
Sheth continued: "You could say the onus is now on Manchester United to go to Borussia Dortmund with an official offer and say 'this is how much we are offering for Jadon Sancho, do you accept?'
"The fact of the matter is that as of August 10, Borussia Dortmund had set their own deadline. £108m should have been on the table and if it wasn't, Jadon Sancho stays at Borussia Dortmund, he goes nowhere.
"At the end of the day Borussia Dortmund have said he's not for sale. However, if Manchester United then decide to, from this positive development, say 'we are going to Borussia Dortmund with an offer', even though Borussia Dortmund have said he's not for sale, the likelihood is that any offer at the moment would be rebuffed or rejected.
"However, two things could potentially happen and have to happen for this deal to be properly resurrected. Number one, Manchester United have to go in and make an official bid and number two, Jadon Sancho will then have to go to Borussia Dortmund and say 'I know you say I'm not for sale, but I do actually want to talk to Manchester United'.
"That then changes the landscape of this deal because Borussia Dortmund have said since August 10 that he's not going anywhere, but if Jadon Sancho then comes to Borussia Dortmund and says 'I want to go to Manchester United', what do Borussia Dortmund then say to their fans? It's up to Manchester United now to make that formal offer to set off that chain of events.
"So there has been a development with regards to agent fees and personal terms, but we haven't even got to the point where Manchester United are dealing with Borussia Dortmund. That will now be the next step."
Sancho has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Germany's top flight and registered 17 goals and 16 assists in 32 Bundesliga games last season.
United are actively exploring alternatives to Sancho in case they cannot complete a deal for their No 1 transfer target in the current window.
The club's recruitment team has compiled a shortlist of players who could also fill the right-wing position that United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has targeted as a priority as he seeks to improve on last season's third-place finish in the Premier League.
Sky Sports News confirmed in July that Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is one player who United could move for, but on a potential loan instead of a permanent deal.
Although positive progress has been made on the issues of agent fees and personal terms in negotiations with Sancho's representatives, United would be prepared to walk away from the deal unless Dortmund lower their demands.
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