[ad_1]
Manchester United are in talks with Barcelona about a loan deal for Ousmane Dembele, while the Premier League club is also considering an upgraded offer from Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
United are eager to sign a winger during this transfer window and while their first choice is Sancho, Dembélé represents a strong alternative.
The 23-year-old was a club record signing for Barcelona when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund for 105 million euros (95.75 million pounds) in August 2017.
He has won two La Liga and Copa del Rey titles during his three seasons in Spain, but has been restricted to 75 appearances in all competitions due to a series of injuries.
The French international is one of four alternative options United are working on if they cannot sign Sancho, along with Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic and free agent Edinson Cavani.
On Tuesday, United had an offer for Sancho worth up to 91.3 million pounds (100 million euros) rejected by Borussia Dortmund. The offer was for an initial £ 73 million, rising to £ 91.3 million, which fell short of Dortmund’s £ 108 million valuation.
United are now considering returning with an improved offer for the England international.
Dortmund set United as a deadline of August 10 to reach an agreement for Sancho, and have stated on several occasions that the winger will not leave now that that date has passed.
Sancho has not traveled with the rest of the Dortmund squad for the German Super Cup match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday due to a “respiratory infection”. You have tested negative for Covid-19.
If United manages to sign a winger before Monday’s transfer deadline, it could have repercussions for Daniel James, who has played just 45 minutes this season.
The 22-year-old was the subject of a loan offer from Leeds last week, and while he wants to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, the arrival of another winger could lead to a reassessment of his future at the club.
‘Dembélé a remedy for Sancho’
Steve McClaren, former Manchester United assistant manager, has said Sky Sports News who believes that Dembélé would only be a short-term option for his former club, until they can sign Sancho.
McClaren encouraged United to meet Dortmund’s sale price for Sancho, and he also wants them to improve their defense, saying: “They need a center forward, they need a center back and they need a left back. Those are the priorities.
“But players like Sancho don’t come around very often. He’s a unique type of player to go to Manchester United. They’ve been looking all over the world. They’re only £ 20 million short, come on, make the deal! It’s for the future .
“United has done well so far with their scout and who they have brought. If they still go for Sancho, then I think Dembélé is in the short term, a stopgap.
“But they need a center forward, and they need a center back. If they want to play with intensity and a high line, they need speed at the rear.”
‘Dembélé agreement symptomatic of Manchester United’s fight’
Jack Wilkinson from Sky Sports:
A bluff to bring Borussia Dortmund to the table, or a genuine alternative for the season until efforts to sign Jadon Sancho can be renewed next summer, on or off the pitch, Ousmane Dembele could certainly do a job for Manchester. United.
Dembélé, winner of the World Cup, certainly comes with a pedigree. Tasked with filling Neymar’s boots, the 23-year-old was once the second-most expensive signing in football history when he moved from Dortmund to Camp Nou in 2017.
There was a promising start and flashes of sheer brilliance, but with more time on the treatment table than on the pitch, it’s fair to say that Dembélé’s season in Barcelona hasn’t lived up to expectations.
In just over three seasons, Dembélé has appeared in just 52 La Liga games for Barcelona, scoring just 12 goals. In the same period, since the start of the 2017/18 season, Sancho has made 80 appearances and 30 goals for Dembélé’s former club Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
The numbers are in Sancho’s favor and yet, entering the final week of the summer window, United are in talks with alternatives to their primary goal.
United may not be the only culprit for Sancho’s impasse, but the decision of an injury-prone player who has made only one 20-minute appearance throughout 2020 is a symptom of the now frantic struggle to bring signings to Old Trafford, as much sense as they make.
Analysis: Man Utd has lost the ability to do ‘dark arts of transfers’
Soccer writer Andy Mitten has been questioning Manchester United’s waning power in the transfer market and says they have lost the ability to do the “dark arts of transfers” and that fans are getting “mixed messages” about the financial situation. of the club.
“It’s very frustrating for the fans and so far they’ve only seen one player come in,” Mitten said. Sky Sports News.
“I don’t think anyone has the same pulling power as Sir Alex Ferguson, but to be fair to Ole, he has been making calls and I know he has spoken with various coaches about players he likes.”
Read the full article here.
Summer Transfer Period: Key Dates and Times
Summer transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, October 5 with an activity party in line Transfer deadline in Sky Sports News Y on our Sky Sports platforms.
A national-only window for deals between the Premier League and the EFL runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5 p.m. Follow all news and analysis on SSN and to the other side Sky sports‘digital platforms, including with our dedicated Transfer Center blog.
[ad_2]