It was certainly not the start of the summer transfer window that many Manchester United fans had dreamed of after their qualification for the Champions League.
United’s third place in the Premier League secured them a step into Europe’s top club competition, ensured they hadn’t lost £ 23m in adidas sponsorship money and enabled them to pursue their main goals this summer. .
Earlier in the year Ed Woodward warned that everything was not going to be as usual this summer, but sadly it was a case of déjà vu as United still struggled to strike deals for their key transfer goals.
United took an age to sign previous main goals Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, but sympathy is already running out as fans become understandably impatient in the pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
The arrival of the Borussia Dortmund winger would go a long way to allay growing fan concerns, but even if United sign their main goal this summer, there will be a fair amount of fans hungry for even more business to do next.
Alexis Sanchez’s departure is in itself a masterstroke, even if it eventually went away for free, while a new long-term deal for Paul Pogba would rightfully be paraded as if it were a new purchase. However, perhaps the next name on the list under Sancho in terms of new arrivals would likely be Jack Grealish.
Aston Villa’s survival in the Premier League seems to be the perfect farewell for the 24-year-old at his boys’ club, but there is still no sign of any real movement.
Given the choice, most United fans would prefer to see Sancho join Grealish in the coming weeks, but there is a solution that could still see them both sign.
United have never had a net spend of more than £ 150 million in a single summer window and a move for Sancho would likely represent half of that production, if not closer to two-thirds. It means that in the current situation Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not be able to attract both players on offense in the coming weeks, but selling reserve goalkeeper Dean Henderson could change that.
There remains a big debate among fans as to which goalkeeper should receive the number 1 jersey at Old Trafford next season, with fans torn between declining David de Gea or impressive lender Henderson. One thing is for sure, neither of you will want to be at the club unless you start every Premier League and Champions League match.
Only last week Solskjaer admitted that it would be difficult to keep both men, along with Sergio Romero, at the club next season and if Henderson is not promoted to first choice next season, the reality is that he must be sold.
Another loan could protect his long-term future with the club, but by selling it and including a repurchase or refusal clause there would still be some chance of redemption later on.
Even after two successful years away from United, promoting Henderson to first choice would still pose a risk. Henderson’s progress hasn’t come without mistakes: he has made a few, but they have arrived at a club where expectations are lower.
Instead there are good reasons to suggest that United would make more money by selling a spare keeper to fund further investment upfront, and receiving a substantial commission for Henderson could be key to making sure Sancho and another first team player ready, rather than a backup option to strengthen the depth of the team.
Ultimately the decision hinges on Solskjaer’s plans for Henderson, but if he is not deemed ready to start at Old Trafford next season, United should use his high stock to their advantage.
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