Is Jadon Sancho really worth the 100 plus million fee?

[AneRu]

Fans are deluded if they think the Glazers are going to sanction any big money signings this summer.

A big summer is the only option, short of selling, that will pacify the fans for the time being at least. The Glazers don't operate in an island and for all the bravado that they are going to come up with they know that they can't afford a full blown Civil War with the fans. Sponsors come for these fans and they can't afford to continue pissing them off.

 

[roonster09]

I’m a big fan of Sancho, but 12 months on, I just don’t see how he fits in at United now.
I get the impression that many want him and are almost annoying or dismissing certain things as minor inconveniences or something, but certain questions and facts can’t just be swept under the carpet.

First is the fact that Sancho isn’t a natural right winger. He indeed can play on the right, but he is certainly more natural on the left.

Secondly, he is what, a year older than Mason Greenwood. For a start, it’s almost impossible to extrapolate his Bundesliga stats and assume that they immediately translate into anything better than what Mason is producing now. And then, even if you do that, time is continuous, and Greenwood himself is now far behind, maybe a year. We’re not talking about say, Anthony Elanga or something. This is someone who has over 50 appearances in the first team. He’s no ordinary ‘young player’, he’s a first team player. He’s a first team player who currently plays on the right of the attack, more naturally than Sancho I would argue.

Then there is his most natural position. Rashford seems first choice on the left, and would need to break his leg for Ole to not pick him. Then there is the Paul Pogba situation. Ole will also pick him if he is here and he is fit. Like it or not, he is not going to be some sort of squad player. He will play either in the centre of midfield or from the left. Rashford ‘could’ play upfront, however, he will not realistically play there ahead of Cavani and proposed new striker, whether he is signed this summer or next.

Assuming Sancho comes in as the first choice right winger as is suggested, then Greenwood becomes a sub. He is also an option centrally of course, where people are also asking for a new striker to go with the other senior strikers we have. He can rotate with Greenwood of course, which then leads to my next question:

The club has made a long term decision and huge investment in Amad Diallo. It’s easy to say ‘he’s not ready yet’, but you don’t keep piling players in the same role who are all in and around the same age in order to bridge a gap of what? A year, two years max. The club can’t just sign £40m wingers with no plan to integrate them. Diallo behind Greenwood makes sense, with him increasing his workload next season to provide cover, behind a 20 year old Greenwood who will be in his third full senior season and able to be first choice.

Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo doesn’t work as right sided options for me. They are all within 30 months of each other, and all requiring of minutes to develop. Even if you say ‘send Diallo on loan for a year’. Yea, and then what? In the near future, within 2 seasons probably, you will be in a place where you have all 3 ready and able to really contribute on the right, all aged between 20 and 23. The way I see it, like it or not, we have chosen our winger when we signed Diallo. It was a choice not to go for the most immediate route, but instead play a longer game, which means the right wing being a rotational/covered position for the next couple of years.

Good post, agree with the general feel of this post. Too many young players in the same position isn't good for their development.

We have to consider depth also. We don't have good enough players for Ole to drop Rashford when he isn't in form or carrying injury. If we sign Sancho then we will have Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood as the players who are good enough for wing position. That's 3 players for 2 positions and then Amad as the youngster from reserves Martial and Cavani for CF position. That looks like good depth, also Pogba as LW won't be a long term solution. He will be back to CM position.

City have B.Silva, Sterling, Torres, Mahrez, Foden, KdB for attacking positions excluding Jesus and Aguero. This strength in the squad gives them good chance to compete in every competition. When they won league in 2018-19, their attacking depth was Aguero, Jesus, David Silva, B.Silva, Sterling, Sane, KdB, Mahrez, Foden.

Look at Bayern last season, they had Coutinho, Muller, Gnabry, Coman, Perisic for positions behind striker. This season they have Gnabry, Coman, Sane, Musiala, Muller and few others.

Even the teams at our level, Chelsea have very good depth. They have Pulisic, Werner, Havertz, CHO, Mount all for 2-3 positions.

Our club's ambition is to win biggest prizes and to do that, we need good squad and of higher quality. We should be expecting our manager to rotate to make sure every player is at their best possible conditioning.

 

[redshaw]

85 million euros works out to £74m, maybe time for a thread title change? :

~£70m sounds fair but during covid times and with buying Amad, seemingly wasting 30-40m on DVB, possibility of Pogba and Cavani staying and affecting how we use the wide positions I kind of doubt we drop 74m on Sancho now. With Greenwood showing well again after doing so well last season, sometimes Pogba on the left with Rashford on the right (I don't like seeing Rashford there). There's also Martial.

Maybe we could sell Martial and DVB to partially fund Sancho and a solid improvement for either Fred or McTominay. Our midfield quality is really poor, this area could have most affect with improvement and it seems as though the club is looking at a new defender, then Bailly new contract, Axel maybe being sold. There's a lot up in the air right now. Pogba moving clubs could really set things moving.

 

[Judas]

I keep forgetting Martial exists. I wonder if we will try and move him on in the summer? I think we'd be smart to.

 

[sullydnl]

I’m a big fan of Sancho, but 12 months on, I just don’t see how he fits in at United now.
I get the impression that many want him and are almost annoying or dismissing certain things as minor inconveniences or something, but certain questions and facts can’t just be swept under the carpet.

First is the fact that Sancho isn’t a natural right winger. He indeed can play on the right, but he is certainly more natural on the left.

Secondly, he is what, a year older than Mason Greenwood. For a start, it’s almost impossible to extrapolate his Bundesliga stats and assume that they immediately translate into anything better than what Mason is producing now. And then, even if you do that, time is continuous, and Greenwood himself is now far behind, maybe a year. We’re not talking about say, Anthony Elanga or something. This is someone who has over 50 appearances in the first team. He’s no ordinary ‘young player’, he’s a first team player. He’s a first team player who currently plays on the right of the attack, more naturally than Sancho I would argue.

Then there is his most natural position. Rashford seems first choice on the left, and would need to break his leg for Ole to not pick him. Then there is the Paul Pogba situation. Ole will also pick him if he is here and he is fit. Like it or not, he is not going to be some sort of squad player. He will play either in the centre of midfield or from the left. Rashford ‘could’ play upfront, however, he will not realistically play there ahead of Cavani and proposed new striker, whether he is signed this summer or next.

Assuming Sancho comes in as the first choice right winger as is suggested, then Greenwood becomes a sub. He is also an option centrally of course, where people are also asking for a new striker to go with the other senior strikers we have. He can rotate with Greenwood of course, which then leads to my next question:

The club has made a long term decision and huge investment in Amad Diallo. It’s easy to say ‘he’s not ready yet’, but you don’t keep piling players in the same role who are all in and around the same age in order to bridge a gap of what? A year, two years max. The club can’t just sign £40m wingers with no plan to integrate them. Diallo behind Greenwood makes sense, with him increasing his workload next season to provide cover, behind a 20 year old Greenwood who will be in his third full senior season and able to be first choice.

Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo doesn’t work as right sided options for me. They are all within 30 months of each other, and all requiring of minutes to develop. Even if you say ‘send Diallo on loan for a year’. Yea, and then what? In the near future, within 2 seasons probably, you will be in a place where you have all 3 ready and able to really contribute on the right, all aged between 20 and 23. The way I see it, like it or not, we have chosen our winger when we signed Diallo. It was a choice not to go for the most immediate route, but instead play a longer game, which means the right wing being a rotational/covered position for the next couple of years.

Yeah, there are a lot of good points there.

Call me old-fashioned but I'd definitely prefer any RW we sign to actually be a RW.

 

[Leftback99]

If Cavani is staying I don't see us signing Sancho and relegating Greenwood to being more regular on the bench. If Pogba stays then his emergence as a LW option makes it even less likely.

 

[theklr]

I keep forgetting Martial exists. I wonder if we will try and move him on in the summer? I think we'd be smart to.

I'll guarantee you Martial will rack up his numbers significantly with Sancho on his right and Rashford on his left.

I mean, he was our top scorer just last season

 

[Rozay]

Good post, agree with the general feel of this post. Too many young players in the same position isn't good for their development.

We have to consider depth also. We don't have good enough players for Ole to drop Rashford when he isn't in form or carrying injury. If we sign Sancho then we will have Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood as the players who are good enough for wing position. That's 3 players for 2 positions and then Amad as the youngster from reserves Martial and Cavani for CF position. That looks like good depth, also Pogba as LW won't be a long term solution. He will be back to CM position.

City have B.Silva, Sterling, Torres, Mahrez, Foden, KdB for attacking positions excluding Jesus and Aguero. This strength in the squad gives them good chance to compete in every competition. When they won league in 2018-19, their attacking depth was Aguero, Jesus, David Silva, B.Silva, Sterling, Sane, KdB, Mahrez, Foden.

Look at Bayern last season, they had Coutinho, Muller, Gnabry, Coman, Perisic for positions behind striker. This season they have Gnabry, Coman, Sane, Musiala, Muller and few others.

Even the teams at our level, Chelsea have very good depth. They have Pulisic, Werner, Havertz, CHO, Mount all for 2-3 positions.

Our club's ambition is to win biggest prizes and to do that, we need good squad and of higher quality. We should be expecting our manager to rotate to make sure every player is at their best possible conditioning.

I appreciate the need for depth, but I think United is different. We are firstly different from these other plastic clubs in that we don’t do squads in the same way. Rashford won’t be dropped if he’s out of form in reality, and it’s very difficult to see a scenario where Ole doesn’t have him as a guaranteed starter if fit.

Then secondly, while I like the idea of options, and other clubs do have more - their options aren’t all teenagers (or a 21 year old). Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo are all developing young players. It’s easier for a Giroud or Matic to be a backup option, but Greenwood and Diallo would need some fairly regular involvement.

I think a lot of the want for Sancho is because I reckon a lot of people are simply ‘not counting’ Diallo. I sort of understand it, but I doubt our club is omitting him in the same way. He’s cost a fair price. I do get it though. Technically, I’m ’not counting’ Dan James and even Pellistri myself. When you step back and think that Ole may also be counting them, then you just never know what his plans are. James, of course, I’d sell - but Pellistri may be in the mix next season too.

Also, I think with the flexibility of Pogba - we do have an option to drop or rotate Rashford. Pogba has started some big games at LW already, even with Rashford fit. What Ole needs to show is that he is above playing Rashford at right back instead of leaving him out of the team. In theory, there is no reason why he should be loving over to take Greenwood’s role when Pogba starts left, but it’s clear to me that Ole will never leave him out if fit. With that being the case, I reckon the rotational option of Pogba is good enough. It also solves a problem for Ole as I feel that - fitness aside, he’s never going to drop Pogba either. Adding a regular at left or right means that, come the biggest games, he’s likely to feel he needs to make a choice between Pogba and Rashford - a choice that I don’t believe he’s comfortable making. Bruno is also in this category which is why VDB can never get a look in even in Cup games or if Bruno is off form. So having cover for players like that is tricky.

 

[Devil81]

100% sign him when we can, if we don't buy this summer he will go elsewhere and we will regret it.

Hence why the club is so desperate for Cavani to resign. Cavani goes and it throws all the summer plans out of the window.

 

[roonster09]

I appreciate the need for depth, but I think United is different. We are firstly different from these other plastic clubs in that we don’t do squads in the same way. Rashford won’t be dropped if he’s out of form in reality, and it’s very difficult to see a scenario where Ole doesn’t have him as a guaranteed starter if fit.

Then secondly, while I like the idea of options, and other clubs do have more - their options aren’t all teenagers (or a 21 year old). Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo are all developing young players. It’s easier for a Giroud or Matic to be a backup option, but Greenwood and Diallo would need some fairly regular involvement.

I think a lot of the want for Sancho is because I reckon a lot of people are simply ‘not counting’ Diallo. I sort of understand it, but I doubt our club is omitting him in the same way. He’s cost a fair price. I do get it though. Technically, I’m ’not counting’ Dan James and even Pellistri myself. When you step back and think that Ole may also be counting them, then you just never know what his plans are. James, of course, I’d sell - but Pellistri may be in the mix next season too.

Also, I think with the flexibility of Pogba - we do have an option to drop or rotate Rashford. Pogba has started some big games at LW already, even with Rashford fit. What Ole needs to show is that he is above playing Rashford at right back instead of leaving him out of the team. In theory, there is no reason why he should be loving over to take Greenwood’s role when Pogba starts left, but it’s clear to me that Ole will never leave him out if fit. With that being the case, I reckon the rotational option of Pogba is good enough. It also solves a problem for Ole as I feel that - fitness aside, he’s never going to drop Pogba either. Adding a regular at left or right means that, come the biggest games, he’s likely to feel he needs to make a choice between Pogba and Rashford - a choice that I don’t believe he’s comfortable making. Bruno is also in this category which is why VDB can never get a look in even in Cup games or if Bruno is off form. So having cover for players like that is tricky.

In 2007-08 we had Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Tevez, Nani, Saha, Park as our attacking options. In Midfield we had Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Anderson. We had depth in every position.

Coming to Diallo point, we will have Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood as our wing options. So Diallo will get chances if Ole starts to rotate the team. Pellistri can go on loan for one more season and James should be sold. In the best case scenario where Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood all plays so well that they will be undropable and then Diallo also turns out to be great player then we can make tactical adjustments or sell the worst of the best players to address other weak areas.

Also the point that they are all teenagers/young players, IMO it's easy to rotate these young players than peak players like Pogba/Bruno.

I agree they all need game time, we play league cup, fa cup, CL group stages vs weaker teams. Then you have to factor things like fatigue, exhaustion, injuries. Also players can play as sub in most of the games too. In short, healthy rotation among the 3 and then good amount of game time in cups for Diallo.

The points you made all point to one thing, Ole is poor with rotation, something he should learn instead of not strengthening the squad. 3 very good players and 1 youngster should be easy enough to manage when it comes to game time.

 

[andersj]

I’m a big fan of Sancho, but 12 months on, I just don’t see how he fits in at United now.
I get the impression that many want him and are almost annoying or dismissing certain things as minor inconveniences or something, but certain questions and facts can’t just be swept under the carpet.

First is the fact that Sancho isn’t a natural right winger. He indeed can play on the right, but he is certainly more natural on the left.

Secondly, he is what, a year older than Mason Greenwood. For a start, it’s almost impossible to extrapolate his Bundesliga stats and assume that they immediately translate into anything better than what Mason is producing now. And then, even if you do that, time is continuous, and Greenwood himself is now far behind, maybe a year. We’re not talking about say, Anthony Elanga or something. This is someone who has over 50 appearances in the first team. He’s no ordinary ‘young player’, he’s a first team player. He’s a first team player who currently plays on the right of the attack, more naturally than Sancho I would argue.

Then there is his most natural position. Rashford seems first choice on the left, and would need to break his leg for Ole to not pick him. Then there is the Paul Pogba situation. Ole will also pick him if he is here and he is fit. Like it or not, he is not going to be some sort of squad player. He will play either in the centre of midfield or from the left. Rashford ‘could’ play upfront, however, he will not realistically play there ahead of Cavani and proposed new striker, whether he is signed this summer or next.

Assuming Sancho comes in as the first choice right winger as is suggested, then Greenwood becomes a sub. He is also an option centrally of course, where people are also asking for a new striker to go with the other senior strikers we have. He can rotate with Greenwood of course, which then leads to my next question:

The club has made a long term decision and huge investment in Amad Diallo. It’s easy to say ‘he’s not ready yet’, but you don’t keep piling players in the same role who are all in and around the same age in order to bridge a gap of what? A year, two years max. The club can’t just sign £40m wingers with no plan to integrate them. Diallo behind Greenwood makes sense, with him increasing his workload next season to provide cover, behind a 20 year old Greenwood who will be in his third full senior season and able to be first choice.

Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo doesn’t work as right sided options for me. They are all within 30 months of each other, and all requiring of minutes to develop. Even if you say ‘send Diallo on loan for a year’. Yea, and then what? In the near future, within 2 seasons probably, you will be in a place where you have all 3 ready and able to really contribute on the right, all aged between 20 and 23. The way I see it, like it or not, we have chosen our winger when we signed Diallo. It was a choice not to go for the most immediate route, but instead play a longer game, which means the right wing being a rotational/covered position for the next couple of years.

Great post. Very sensible take.

I’m hesitant to say no to Sancho due to his talent. He looks like a Grealish/Hazard-type of talent (to avoid a Messi comparison). A player that could be both a playmaker and goalscorer. Someone who can take players on and be a great passer of the ball in the final third. If a young player like that is available for us, can we really afford not to go for him?

I’m also a bit vary of Rashfords form, heavy matching (and talk about injuries). His goal/assist record is good, but his form has not been good for awhile. Adding to that, how long will Pogba stay?

Next year we could be in a situation where Greenwood/Diallo is starting to look great on the right, while Pogba leaves for free and we have run Rashford to the ground (or he had been subpar for a while). We need world class attacking talent, and those are not easy to attract.

But you make a good case. I’m also a bit vary of him being a bit «lazy» (in lack of a better word). Looking at the impact of Bruno and Cavani, and how teams like City and Liverpool play with players who plays with great intensity, have made me more aware of the impact of Rashford and Martials lack of pressing and movement. A player like Raphinha at Leeds seems more like a player in the «Bruno-mould».

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

We have no idea if Diallo is ready and Rashford and James performance is affected when played on the right so asides Greenwood we don't have a reliable RW depth option

We are also forgetting Cavani is here for just one year if he extends. If next season we loan Diallo and Pellistri again it will leave us with.

LW- Rashford James
RW - Sancho Greenwood
ST - Martial Cavani

Cavani leaves after next season and hopefully Greenwood is adapting to the ST role. In the 2023 season we would have

LW - Rashford James(who could be sold) Pellistri
RW - Sancho Diallo
ST - Martial Greenwood

Think this should be the plan going forward

 

[Rozay]

We have no idea if Diallo is ready and Rashford and James performance is affected when played on the right so asides Greenwood we don't have a reliable RW depth option

We are also forgetting Cavani is here for just one year if he extends. If next season we loan Diallo and Pellistri again it will leave us with.

LW- Rashford James
RW - Sancho Greenwood
ST - Martial Cavani

Cavani leaves after next season and hopefully Greenwood is adapting to the ST role. In the 2023 season we would have

LW - Rashford James(who could be sold) Pellistri
RW - Sancho Diallo
ST - Martial Greenwood

Think this should be the plan going forward

Does that mean you don’t want us to sign a striker then?

 

[Devil may care]

I’m a big fan of Sancho, but 12 months on, I just don’t see how he fits in at United now.
I get the impression that many want him and are almost annoying or dismissing certain things as minor inconveniences or something, but certain questions and facts can’t just be swept under the carpet.

First is the fact that Sancho isn’t a natural right winger. He indeed can play on the right, but he is certainly more natural on the left.

Secondly, he is what, a year older than Mason Greenwood. For a start, it’s almost impossible to extrapolate his Bundesliga stats and assume that they immediately translate into anything better than what Mason is producing now. And then, even if you do that, time is continuous, and Greenwood himself is now far behind, maybe a year. We’re not talking about say, Anthony Elanga or something. This is someone who has over 50 appearances in the first team. He’s no ordinary ‘young player’, he’s a first team player. He’s a first team player who currently plays on the right of the attack, more naturally than Sancho I would argue.

Then there is his most natural position. Rashford seems first choice on the left, and would need to break his leg for Ole to not pick him. Then there is the Paul Pogba situation. Ole will also pick him if he is here and he is fit. Like it or not, he is not going to be some sort of squad player. He will play either in the centre of midfield or from the left. Rashford ‘could’ play upfront, however, he will not realistically play there ahead of Cavani and proposed new striker, whether he is signed this summer or next.

Assuming Sancho comes in as the first choice right winger as is suggested, then Greenwood becomes a sub. He is also an option centrally of course, where people are also asking for a new striker to go with the other senior strikers we have. He can rotate with Greenwood of course, which then leads to my next question:

The club has made a long term decision and huge investment in Amad Diallo. It’s easy to say ‘he’s not ready yet’, but you don’t keep piling players in the same role who are all in and around the same age in order to bridge a gap of what? A year, two years max. The club can’t just sign £40m wingers with no plan to integrate them. Diallo behind Greenwood makes sense, with him increasing his workload next season to provide cover, behind a 20 year old Greenwood who will be in his third full senior season and able to be first choice.

Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo doesn’t work as right sided options for me. They are all within 30 months of each other, and all requiring of minutes to develop. Even if you say ‘send Diallo on loan for a year’. Yea, and then what? In the near future, within 2 seasons probably, you will be in a place where you have all 3 ready and able to really contribute on the right, all aged between 20 and 23. The way I see it, like it or not, we have chosen our winger when we signed Diallo. It was a choice not to go for the most immediate route, but instead play a longer game, which means the right wing being a rotational/covered position for the next couple of years.

Good post, a chunk of United fans have decided Mason will be a #9 long term and that he's not creative enough off the right, but I think if you look at Mason his all round game has developed this season and both him and Ole have talked about liking him in that RWF role. I think there's just as much likelihood that Mason becomes a Son style forward as a Harry Kane.

 

[Rozay]

Great post. Very sensible take.

I’m hesitant to say no to Sancho due to his talent. He looks like a Grealish/Hazard-type of talent (to avoid a Messi comparison). A player that could be both a playmaker and goalscorer. Someone who can take players on and be a great passer of the ball in the final third. If a young player like that is available for us, can we really afford not to go for him?

I’m also a bit vary of Rashfords form, heavy matching (and talk about injuries). His goal/assist record is good, but his form has not been good for awhile. Adding to that, how long will Pogba stay?

Next year we could be in a situation where Greenwood/Diallo is starting to look great on the right, while Pogba leaves for free and we have run Rashford to the ground (or he had been subpar for a while). We need world class attacking talent, and those are not easy to attract.

But you make a good case. I’m also a bit vary of him being a bit «lazy» (in lack of a better word). Looking at the impact of Bruno and Cavani, and how teams like City and Liverpool play with players who plays with great intensity, have made me more aware of the impact of Rashford and Martials lack of pressing and movement. A player like Raphinha at Leeds seems more like a player in the «Bruno-mould».

That makes perfect sense tbh, and I’m a bit more convinced now.

It’s just the Diallo wildcard for me that changed my thinking a bit. When we didn’t get Sancho last year, I was very much in the ‘see you next season’ camp, until we spent big on Amad. I thought that was the alternative option. But we do need depth I agree. And I do love Sancho. If I felt he’d be treated as a genuine alternative to Rashford on the left I’d be even more open, but I see him just adding to the you g players on the right - due to the others there are softer touches than Rashford for Ole to rotate.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Does that mean you don’t want us to sign a striker then?

It all depends. If Cavani renews for one year then we are not signing a striker this season. After next season when Cavani leaves, getting a striker depends on whether Martial has gotten his form back and if Greenwood has started contributing there. If that' happens (which was the case in my post) then a striker won't be needed.

 

[Rozay]

It all depends. If Cavani renews for one year then we are not signing a striker this season. After next season when Cavani leaves, getting a striker depends on whether Martial has gotten his form back and if Greenwood has started contributing there. If that' happens (which was the case in my post) then a striker won't be needed.

Ah, fair enough, that makes sense.

I also agree in general that if a striker doesn’t come, there is more need for Sancho due to Greenwood’s ability to play there.

 

[CM]

I’m a big fan of Sancho, but 12 months on, I just don’t see how he fits in at United now.
I get the impression that many want him and are almost annoying or dismissing certain things as minor inconveniences or something, but certain questions and facts can’t just be swept under the carpet.

First is the fact that Sancho isn’t a natural right winger. He indeed can play on the right, but he is certainly more natural on the left.

Secondly, he is what, a year older than Mason Greenwood. For a start, it’s almost impossible to extrapolate his Bundesliga stats and assume that they immediately translate into anything better than what Mason is producing now. And then, even if you do that, time is continuous, and Greenwood himself is now far behind, maybe a year. We’re not talking about say, Anthony Elanga or something. This is someone who has over 50 appearances in the first team. He’s no ordinary ‘young player’, he’s a first team player. He’s a first team player who currently plays on the right of the attack, more naturally than Sancho I would argue.

Then there is his most natural position. Rashford seems first choice on the left, and would need to break his leg for Ole to not pick him. Then there is the Paul Pogba situation. Ole will also pick him if he is here and he is fit. Like it or not, he is not going to be some sort of squad player. He will play either in the centre of midfield or from the left. Rashford ‘could’ play upfront, however, he will not realistically play there ahead of Cavani and proposed new striker, whether he is signed this summer or next.

Assuming Sancho comes in as the first choice right winger as is suggested, then Greenwood becomes a sub. He is also an option centrally of course, where people are also asking for a new striker to go with the other senior strikers we have. He can rotate with Greenwood of course, which then leads to my next question:

The club has made a long term decision and huge investment in Amad Diallo. It’s easy to say ‘he’s not ready yet’, but you don’t keep piling players in the same role who are all in and around the same age in order to bridge a gap of what? A year, two years max. The club can’t just sign £40m wingers with no plan to integrate them. Diallo behind Greenwood makes sense, with him increasing his workload next season to provide cover, behind a 20 year old Greenwood who will be in his third full senior season and able to be first choice.

Sancho, Greenwood and Diallo doesn’t work as right sided options for me. They are all within 30 months of each other, and all requiring of minutes to develop. Even if you say ‘send Diallo on loan for a year’. Yea, and then what? In the near future, within 2 seasons probably, you will be in a place where you have all 3 ready and able to really contribute on the right, all aged between 20 and 23. The way I see it, like it or not, we have chosen our winger when we signed Diallo. It was a choice not to go for the most immediate route, but instead play a longer game, which means the right wing being a rotational/covered position for the next couple of years.

I'm not sure I see this as that much of an issue. City have been stockpiling attacking talent for years.

If anybody is going to be the first casualty of Sancho coming in it will be Dan James, which in all honesty should happen sooner rather than later. Greenwood's versatility means he will always get minutes and Rashford has often had to play through injuries when he barely looks capable of playing. A signing like Sancho would give us more security and flexibility in that sense, as well as quality of course.

I would possibly agree on Amad. I'm a big fan but the evidence so far suggests he isn't going to be an integral part of the side next season anyway. Solskjaer hasn't given him a single minute of Premier League football yet and he's barely played in the cup competitions either. I accept that he'll likely get more game time next season but I doubt there will be that much of a jump.

Sancho/Rashford/Greenwood/Amad would be the kind of quality that enables us to seriously challenge across multiple competitions without so much pressure on one or two players staying fit.

 

[cyberman]

Sancho can play anywhere behind the striker. That fluidity will add a lot to the side going forward, it really is a no brainer. People get fixated on starting positions a bit too much but theyll move enough during a game that nobody is uncomfortable.

 

[BorisManUtd]

I keep forgetting Martial exists. I wonder if we will try and move him on in the summer? I think we'd be smart to.

Don't think so, he was our best player last season after Bruno, even though he was awful this season Ole will still give him another chance next season for sure.

Regarding Sancho, I think he was fair to club last summer when the move didn't happen and earned himself transfer this year with his behaviour. Don't think Dortmund can afford to lose their both big player in Jadon and Haaland so expect them to sell Sancho but keep Haaland until 2022 when his clause should be triggered by some club. Actually, just saw BVB CEO Watzke apparently said today that Erling will be with them next season.

 

[laughtersassassin]

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What a Bargain! No reason to not do this. Less than we bidded for him last year

 

[Bebestation]

My only problem with Sancho is that if he doesnt do well on the RW (which is arguably his weaker side) then what we have is Rashford and Sancho competing for the LW.

There is nothing wrong with that - but I'd rather have Grealish competing with Rashford on the LW as they are two different types of players.

 

[harms]

My only problem with Sancho is that if he doesnt do well on the RW (which is arguably his weaker side) then what we have is Rashford and Sancho competing for the LW.

There is nothing wrong with that - but I'd rather have Grealish competing with Rashford on the LW as they are two different types of players.

Well, Sancho and Rashford are also two different type of players?

 

[andersj]

That makes perfect sense tbh, and I’m a bit more convinced now.

It’s just the Diallo wildcard for me that changed my thinking a bit. When we didn’t get Sancho last year, I was very much in the ‘see you next season’ camp, until we spent big on Amad. I thought that was the alternative option. But we do need depth I agree. And I do love Sancho. If I felt he’d be treated as a genuine alternative to Rashford on the left I’d be even more open, but I see him just adding to the you g players on the right - due to the others there are softer touches than Rashford for Ole to rotate.

I agree. He is not what we really need. And to spend big on someone we dont really need appears counterintuitive at this stage.

I remember when we bought Rooney I felt a bit similar. He was not a player we really needed. We had more pressing needs since we hade RvN, Saha and Forlan. Scholes played as a 10. But he was one we just had to get. I think we even played him as winger the first season. I think Sancho could be a similar case.

 

[Bebestation]

Well, Sancho and Rashford are also two different type of players?

Would you say them playing as LW inverted forwards is super different because Sancho may have some extra creativity that Rashford lacks?

When I look at Grealish he dribbles in a completely different way, he creates things in a different way, he plays the LW almost as a LAM and I like that for a difference.

In an ideal world in 3 years time maybe we have both - but its just a little preference I have by wanting the LW Grealish over the LW Sancho - not the RW sancho.

 

[rotherham_red]

That makes perfect sense tbh, and I’m a bit more convinced now.

It’s just the Diallo wildcard for me that changed my thinking a bit. When we didn’t get Sancho last year, I was very much in the ‘see you next season’ camp, until we spent big on Amad. I thought that was the alternative option. But we do need depth I agree. And I do love Sancho. If I felt he’d be treated as a genuine alternative to Rashford on the left I’d be even more open, but I see him just adding to the you g players on the right - due to the others there are softer touches than Rashford for Ole to rotate.

If I remember correctly, the Diallo links were always with a view to him being purchased irrespective of Sancho coming in. Sancho is someone with the positional versatility to play across any position in the three behind a striker, so I think what we would see is Sancho playing regularly but not necessarily in the same position. Likewise Greenwood is being moulded to play in any of the positions across the front line including striker. Right now, we're forced to play Rashford more than we'd like because the drop off from him to James/Diallo is too large. Diallo will be more prominent next season but it will be a gradual increase, and I think ultimately what we're looking to do is to have two interchangeable sets of attackers like City, so that the quality doesn't drop when cog is out or rested. There won't be clear first choices, unless one of the players goes absolutely supernova.

 

[AgentSmith]

Rashford Cavani Sancho
Martial Greenwood Diallo
​

with Pogba able to slot into that LAM role in bigger games seems nicely balanced to me. Sancho’s technical consistency is something I fee we’re lacking in attack where we can be slightly erratic with the ball, while his versatility is another bonus.

Would also allow us to move on Lingard and James (hopefully for somewhere in the region of £40-50 million) which could then be invested into the other areas of the pitch that need upgrading.

 

[united_99]

No need to sell Martial unless a super offer comes in which won’t be the case.
If we get Sancho we can sell James to bizarrely almost everyone‘s 2nd team (plus Brighton or AV might also be interested). And sell Lingard to West Ham.
Martial was very good last season and Ole likes him, he will get another season to get back to his best.
However if he has another disappointing season then time will probably be up for him.

 

[RedSky]

Diallo has barely even played any football. We have no idea how good he really is or if he can hack it with the big boys in the Premier League. Walking away from a Sancho transfer who has been one of the best RW's in the last 3 seasons just because we hope an 18 year old lad might come good is complete and utter madness. It's a no brainer for me, Sancho is perfect for us and the sooner we get the deal done and quicker he can bed in with the lads. No fecking around.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Sancho is the best winger money can buy.

His price has been dropped to a price lower than we bidded last year.

He wants to join and Ole wants him.

There is no reason for us to miss out on him again.

Show ambition by signing someone like Sancho and Pogba may stay. Win win.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Rashford - Greenwood - Sancho - Martial - Diallo has to be forced to be the new Rooney - Tevez - Ronaldo - Berbatov - Nani.

 

[stepic]

At 70m it’s an absolute no brainer.

Rashford Greenwood Sancho front 3 yes please

 

[Sting]

He literally had 12 goals in 34 games this season. That’s hardly prolific is it? I personally think we should watch him for another season before we spend all of our transfer budget on him. It’s not like he will go somewhere else if we don’t sign him this summer anyway. There is a reason Halaand is linked to every big club and Sancho to just us. They’re trying to ship him off before his value drops even more.

Frankly I don’t think he’s the answer to the problems we have. We already have players similar to him with pretty much the same level of potential.

 

[devil99]

I don't care if Sancho plays right wing, left wing or right back. You buy when a talent like Sancho available for a reasonable fee.

We need to kick up Rashford's backside a bit to get more out of him. He should play only when he is 100% fit and 100% ready to run himself down for the team. No more half arsed performance for whatever reasons. This applies to every squad member, not just Rashford.

I want as much a squad depth as City where Guardiola can bench a player like Aguero, and nobody gives a sh*t.

 

[laughtersassassin]

At 70m it’s an absolute no brainer.

Rashford Greenwood Sancho front 3 yes please

It really is. It's a deal you can't walk away from if we are even trying to be a serious football club.

If he goes elsewhere it will say a lot about our lack of ambition and will truly be the final nail In the coffin for trying to keep Pogba.

 

[BorisManUtd]

It really is. It's a deal you can't walk away from if we are even trying to be a serious football club.

If he goes elsewhere it will say a lot about our lack of ambition and will truly be the final nail In the coffin for trying to keep Pogba.

Agree. And not only Pogba, can see Bruno leaving in a year if we don't show ambition, he'll be 27 this year and won't be spending his best years in club playing Europa league forever. This summer has really huge importance for club's future. Get Sancho, quality DM or CB and then you can you improved your squad.

 

[harms]

Would you say them playing as LW inverted forwards is super different because Sancho may have some extra creativity that Rashford lacks?

When I look at Grealish he dribbles in a completely different way, he creates things in a different way, he plays the LW almost as a LAM and I like that for a difference.

In an ideal world in 3 years time maybe we have both - but its just a little preference I have by wanting the LW Grealish over the LW Sancho - not the RW sancho.

Absolutely. Just as Cristiano and Hazard are/were very different players (I’m not talking about the obvious gap in quality, but about their style).

 

[Bebestation]

Absolutely. Just as Cristiano and Hazard are/were very different players (I’m not talking about the obvious gap in quality, but about their style).

I mean the reason I want Grealish is because he reminds me more of a Hazard type player from LW than Sancho does.

Anyway, Sancho makes more sense because he can cover the RW whilst Grealish covers areas where we are stocked in for now (LW, CAM, CM).

 

[RkkMan]

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[Stacks]

Fans are deluded if they think the Glazers are going to sanction any big money signings this summer.

Im not sure about the amount we can spend this summer, but i do think that we have a lack of creativity from our wide positions. Most games we are attacking sides trying to break them down, and someone like Jadon can open teams up. If we can turn some of the dropped points at home to the likes of Sheffield, Palace etc... it would do wonders to our points tally.

It also works when we are playing the better teams and counter attacking. We tend to be wasteful and this would add a dimension to our attack.

Add him and a DM and i think we can challenge for every trophy next year (assuming we keep Pogba and Cavani as well).

We have players we can sell.