It's the former, Sancho is the number 1 priority, VDB wouldn't be signed if Sancho wasn't coming.
The Pogba year
(as per Wikipedia):
Pogba is the marquee signing with the other players that worked within the budget were signed, Bailly and Mkhitaryan.
The Lukaku year
(as per Wikipedia):
Removed Sanchez from the list as it was a January transfer, Lindelof again was the squad player at the time, Lukaku was the marquee signing, Matic came after because was available at the right price.
Last year it was
(as per wikipedia):
They were interested in Maguire first and foremost, the big transfer. Which meant he was last, the board allocated funds for 'a wildcard, potential' in James, a 'certainty' in Wan-bissaka, and the 'marquee' signing in Maguire.
Parallels to this summer, United know what they have to spend for Sancho, there is some form of agreement, so they secured VDB, they are looking at a CB and at moving on players, Sancho will be the last signing of the window.
United only sign the players before IF the budget is right, they have the money for Sancho ready.
This summer so far and potential window:
Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|
2 September 2020 | MF | Donny van de Beek | Ajax | Undisclosed[a] | [3] |
Some Date in September | DF | Who Knows When | | | |
Some Date in September | FW | Sancho (?) Marquee Signing | | | |