Alternative destinations from Manchester United to Jadon Sancho

If Borussia Dortmund has resigned itself to losing Jadon Sancho this summer, then their poker face deserves high praise.

The English winger remains Manchester United’s main goal for the upcoming window, but despite frequent speculation, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has claimed that United cannot afford the 20-year-old.

Along with Saturday’s board member Sebastian Kehl’s claims that the club expects Sancho to stay in Signul Iduna Park beyond the summer, it is becoming increasingly likely that United will have to look elsewhere in the meantime to strengthen its squad.

In this sense 90min have brought speculation and common sense together to make a list of alternative goals and classified them according to their suitability.

The short-term option United fans are desperately hoping they won’t have to consider. Willian is likely seen as the last resort by Josh King or Odion Ighalo, only to be pursued if all other options fail.

Nevertheless, in the latter cases it is not a bad one. It’s available for free, has a proven pedigree in the Premier League and Champions League, and isn’t very popular with Liverpool fans – which is always a bonus.

Just last summer, Traoré was seen as a £ 18m waste, a one-trick, end-product pony for which Wolves would do well to charge any fee.

He is now one of the most feared attackers in the Premier League. Wolves charge up to £ 80m for its services.

The fact that he was at the peak of his strength for such a short time will likely keep United and any other interested club from coughing up what the wolves ask for, but he is certainly able to replace the pace and directness of Sancho – if not the creative mastery.

Under has struggled to reach the heights he is capable of this season and has difficulty maintaining a run with the Roma team after a long break on the sidelines with knee injury.

In 2017/18 and 2018/19, however, he had directly contributed to 26 goals in 65 games and earned a reputation as one of the most exciting young attackers in Europe.

Roma are reportedly considering a sale to raise funds this summer, and United – along with Arsenal and Everton – is said to be in the frame.

Bernardeschi’s reputation has slackened considerably in the past year or two and he’s struggling to break into a dominant and highly competitive Juventus team, but there’s no doubt that he’s a talented player who has a lot to offer an elite club .

At 26, he’s a more experienced option than Sancho and lacks the winger’s explosive dynamics, but he could act as an established void as people like Mason Greenwood and Dan James evolve.

From the player’s perspective, after a difficult time in Turin, he will be interested in rebuilding his standing in the game.

Neres claims to have convinced his current girlfriend by writing to Instagram and saying, “I’m David Neres. Come to me.”

If that doesn’t say everything you need to know about his trust in his abilities, nothing will.

The silky Brazilian only managed 12 league games for Ajax in 2019/20 due to injury, but still scored six goals. He is an exceptional talent.

If United is priced out of a deal for Sancho, they may choose to change the clock. If it is believed that inside promotion can solve their problems in the right midfield when Greenwood, James, or someone else shows up, they could instead choose to invest in creativity elsewhere on the pitch.

Enter Jack Grealish.

The captain of Aston Villa was only a target for the club in March, and there was no clear indication that their interest had cooled despite the pandemic.

He is able to play far to the left or through the center, and although it is not clear who he is supplanting on the United team, his ability is clear. He has been directly involved in more than a third of Villa’s league goals this season, and although they are still in great danger, they have long been without his influence.

Before Jadon Sancho, Manchester United had Federico Chiesa. The Italian has been associated with the club a lot in the past two or three years, and it’s obvious why – he’s boldly good at football.

His relative struggles this season coincided with a move to a central position, which clearly plays against his key attributes. His explosive pace, dribbling ability and murderous left foot match a position on his right wing like a fish on water, as his hat-trick against Roma in last quarter’s Coppa Italia shows.

He is only 22 years old and needs to improve, but even with his current skills, he would be a huge asset to Solskjaer.

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