Born and raised in south London and spotted by Watford age seven, Sancho spent two years in the Manchester City academy as a teenager and, as such, he knows the north-west well. Though he failed to make a senior appearance for City, he should have little trouble reintegrating into English football.
While Chelsea have made the biggest waves in the transfer market so far with the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner – Kai Havertz seems likely to follow – United signing Sancho would certainly give their rivals pause for thought.
Having made a strong finish to the season to secure third place and Champions League football, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to launch a left-field title challenge next term.
Sancho could be integral to United’s efforts, though he is by no means a fix-all signing and the squad still has its shortcomings.
Nonetheless, here are three ways that United could line up with Sancho next season.
When does the Premier League re-start? 2020-21 season dates, confirmed teams, TV details and everything else we know
One of Sancho’s main selling points is his ability to switch seamlessly between flanks. Though he’s right-footed, he has made the majority of his Bundesliga appearances on the left this season.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2018, Dan Micciche, one of Sancho’s former England youth coaches, said: “Even though he’s right-footed, when he’s dribbling at people on that left side he can actually go inside or outside and that makes him very difficult to defend against.”
While Sancho’s skills as a dribbler need little further elaboration at this stage, his tactical flexibility is perhaps underestimated.
While Marcus Rashford has filled in on the left of the attacking trident for United recently, Sancho would not necessarily have to replace him directly.
With fluid front threes in vogue at the moment, Solskjaer could start Sancho on the left but have him interchange with Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as suits him.
Similarly comfortable on the right, Sancho could just as easily come in for Greenwood in a front-line reshuffle.
Whoever starts in the centre can expect excellent service from either flank, with Sancho registering 16 assists in the Bundesliga this season.
Sancho struck up an excellent understanding with the relentless juggernaut that is Erling Braut Haaland after the latter joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in January, having previously had a productive relationship with the fox-like Paco Alcacer. He should dovetail equally well with a speedster like Martial or a more direct centre-forward like Odion Ighalo.
Dortmund coach Lucien Favre started out with a 4-2-3-1 formation at the start of the season, but switched to a 3-4-3 halfway through which pushed Sancho slightly further up the pitch.
Solskjaer will have to decide whether to stick with his own version of the 4-2-3-1, or to push Sancho higher. One way or another, his adaptability is an enormous asset.
This may seem like a left-field shout, given how well Bruno Fernandes has done since arriving at Old Trafford in January.
Sancho is certainly capable of playing behind the striker, however, and could fill in for Fernandes when Solskjaer wants to rotate or is forced to chop and change because of injuries.
While Sancho has excelled on the flanks for Dortmund, his close control and technical skill make him well suited to exploiting the space behind the front line.
Likewise, his eye for a final ball is comparable to most top playmakers.
Something for Solskjaer to consider, then, even if Sancho is likely to make the majority of his appearances from the wings.
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In what would be the biggest transfer of the summer so far, Jadon Sancho appears to be on the verge of joining Manchester United.
Having been linked with every European superclub under the sun over the last few years, Sancho’s time at Borussia Dortmund may finally be coming to an end. Still only 20 years of age, he has scored 34 goals in 99 appearances for BVB since his senior breakthrough three seasons ago.
According to Sky Sports he is close to agreeing personal terms with United on a five-year contract, with Dortmund wanting €120m (£108m) for him. There may be a snag, with the BBC reporting that Dortmund’s valuation is a sticking point for United, though Ed Woodward has previous when it comes to heavy-handed negotiation tactics and there’s little doubt that he’s eager to get a deal done.
Born and raised in south London and spotted by Watford age seven, Sancho spent two years in the Manchester City academy as a teenager and, as such, he knows the north-west well. Though he failed to make a senior appearance for City, he should have little trouble reintegrating into English football.
While Chelsea have made the biggest waves in the transfer market so far with the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner – Kai Havertz seems likely to follow – United signing Sancho would certainly give their rivals pause for thought.
Having made a strong finish to the season to secure third place and Champions League football, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to launch a left-field title challenge next term.
Sancho could be integral to United’s efforts, though he is by no means a fix-all signing and the squad still has its shortcomings.
Nonetheless, here are three ways that United could line up with Sancho next season.
When does the Premier League re-start? 2020-21 season dates, confirmed teams, TV details and everything else we know
One of Sancho’s main selling points is his ability to switch seamlessly between flanks. Though he’s right-footed, he has made the majority of his Bundesliga appearances on the left this season.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2018, Dan Micciche, one of Sancho’s former England youth coaches, said: “Even though he’s right-footed, when he’s dribbling at people on that left side he can actually go inside or outside and that makes him very difficult to defend against.”
While Sancho’s skills as a dribbler need little further elaboration at this stage, his tactical flexibility is perhaps underestimated.
While Marcus Rashford has filled in on the left of the attacking trident for United recently, Sancho would not necessarily have to replace him directly.
With fluid front threes in vogue at the moment, Solskjaer could start Sancho on the left but have him interchange with Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as suits him.
Similarly comfortable on the right, Sancho could just as easily come in for Greenwood in a front-line reshuffle.
Whoever starts in the centre can expect excellent service from either flank, with Sancho registering 16 assists in the Bundesliga this season.
Sancho struck up an excellent understanding with the relentless juggernaut that is Erling Braut Haaland after the latter joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in January, having previously had a productive relationship with the fox-like Paco Alcacer. He should dovetail equally well with a speedster like Martial or a more direct centre-forward like Odion Ighalo.
Dortmund coach Lucien Favre started out with a 4-2-3-1 formation at the start of the season, but switched to a 3-4-3 halfway through which pushed Sancho slightly further up the pitch.
Solskjaer will have to decide whether to stick with his own version of the 4-2-3-1, or to push Sancho higher. One way or another, his adaptability is an enormous asset.
This may seem like a left-field shout, given how well Bruno Fernandes has done since arriving at Old Trafford in January.
Sancho is certainly capable of playing behind the striker, however, and could fill in for Fernandes when Solskjaer wants to rotate or is forced to chop and change because of injuries.
While Sancho has excelled on the flanks for Dortmund, his close control and technical skill make him well suited to exploiting the space behind the front line.
Likewise, his eye for a final ball is comparable to most top playmakers.
Something for Solskjaer to consider, then, even if Sancho is likely to make the majority of his appearances from the wings.
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