We really have no idea whats been said or done behind the scenes.
How do you know we've not tried to talk to Dortmund directly and they've been palming us off to their intermediateries? How do we know that since we had that rejected bid, we've not been in contact quite a bit as Dortmund now know we're serious about buying and not just all talk. We only know what the media tell us, and what both clubs WANT us to hear. What they say behind closed doors will remain just that, behind closed doors and away from us.
You are right, we are just getting stories different interested parties want us to hear. You are also right that its not clear which story is closest to the reality.
For me, however, this version of the truth seems to explain how circumstances have played out best.
If, indeed, Dortmund have not seriously engaged with the idea of Sancho leaving for a long time it makes sense of the timeline of contradictory tales. If it suited someone to imply some big negotiation was going on, it explains why ages ago journalists allegedly close to Sancho were saying personal terms weren't an issue only for journalists close to the club to come back and claim they definitely were and had held up progress until recently.
If this has all been some elaborate performance then making out we can't deal with the club because of X, Y and Z makes the timeline of news articles and briefings make sense.
It has suited someone to make out some torturous negotiation has been going on. However, the truth is, the German side has been cold for ages. Even the briefings in the German media seem to have gone quiet weeks ago. It has been almost exclusively English sources beating the drum for this. Again, this makes sense if Dortmund won't deal at less than their asking price and don't have any expectation of United meeting it.