With the transfer window now open and Chelsea and Manchester City already proactive, questions are being asked of United’s own (in)activity in the market even though the window only opened on Monday.
United are always judged in relation to how their competitors, or their peers, are going about their business. Borussia Dortmund have a larger average attendance than United and did some excellent business early in last year’s window, including the signing of Julian Brandt – a player United fleetingly considered.
Because of United’s reputation and their willingness to spend in the post-Ferguson era, clubs try to fleece them. People close to Eric Bailly told me if Dortmund wanted him in 2016 he would have cost them around €20m. Because United were in for him, Bailly went for £30m.
Other clubs fabricate United interest to smoke out actual bidders (Aston Villa with Christian Benteke, Hoffenheim with Roberto Firmino, etc.). The bigger picture is United have a short window to assemble a squad remotely capable of challenging for the title next season and the suspicion is they are having to sell before they can buy certain targets.
On that note: United and Inter are in advanced negotiations to sign Alexis Sanchez, a story that went live today and which you can read about here.
United did not include an option to buy for a fixed fee in the loan agreement for Sanchez in case his re-sale value increased. Sanchez is contracted to United until 2022 and the MEN revealed in February the club had started looking for potential buyers. Inter are paying 75 per cent of Sanchez’s £400,000 weekly net wages.
Fortunately for United, Sanchez has hit form since the restart in Italy and also stayed fit. He completed 90 minutes in a club game for the first time since August 2018 at the start of this month and Inter seem convinced he is worth a permanent punt.
From Sanchez to Sancho: selling Sanchez early would enable United to accelerate plans to recruit their priority target, Jadon Sancho. That story also went live this afternoon and can be read here.
United are relaxed about their pursuit of Sancho amid attempts by Dortmund to pressurise them into making an early bid. A report in Germany this week claimed United had submitted a £90million offer for priority target Sancho, 20, but the club denied any bid had been made on the first day of the summer transfer window and Dortmund figures have privately admitted the same.
The understanding is United believe Dortmund are attempting to arouse interest in Sancho from other clubs to accelerate a deal before their pre-season fixtures start on August 12. United are due to play in the Europa League quarter-finals on August 10 in Cologne, which is around 100km away from Dortmund’s training ground. Any journey there should be smooth on the Autobahn.
Next week I am bound for Cologne for United’s Europa League campaign – provided LASK Linz do not win by six goals at Old Trafford on Wednesday. There will be a story on United’s preparations in the coming days.
A tip of the hat to colleague Rich Fay for this chat with the former United scout Jorge Alvial. Alvial risked a disciplinary at United by going to the chief scout to recommend they sign Christian Pulisic and it was Alvial whom recommended Alphonso Davies to United. The full chat is here.
Hopefully that all suffices for now. Enjoy the rest of your week and the coverage
MASH THE WRITER 