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Man United growing in confidence over Jadon Sancho transfer as Dortmund try to keep star in the news

Getty Images
Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund’s determination to keep Jadon Sancho in the news only strengthens the belief at Manchester United that they want to sell the England international.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shut down attempts at the start of the week to get him to speak out about his primary transfer target, his club have only been too happy to make the saga public.

First sporting director Michael Zorc declared the deal dead, despite United continuing to negotiate with Sancho’s agent Emeka Obasi at the instruction of the Germans.

That was followed by Dortmund players openly discussing the 20-year-old interviews, before the player himself was put in front of the cameras on Wednesday.

Compare that last summer when Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku we’re seeking exits from Old Trafford.

Solskjaer deflected all questions about pair, while the media were kept at arm’s length from either one.

Pogba’s revelation that he might be ready for a new challenge amid interest from Real Madrid came via a personal endorsement tour.

Conversely, Dortmund are happy to keep the focus on Sancho.

Sources well-connected with them have repeatedly claimed personal terms have been agreed with Man United - something that is strongly-refuted within Old Trafford.

There has been a feeling for some time that Dortmund are publicly trying to hurry the deal along.

And that they have always felt United would eventually bow to their demands of a British record £108million for the winger.

United are adamant they will not go that high - and are trying to negotiate a fee closer to £70m with incentive-based add-ons.

They were unmoved by what was deemed an ‘artificial’ August 10 deadline, but have been surprised by Dortmund’s insistence on working through Obasi, which has slowed negotiations, rather than speed them up.

There is a belief on both sides that the other will relent.

Dortmund had previously insisted Ousmane Dembele would not be sold when Barcelona came calling in 2017.

But that ignores the £96.8million fee they ultimately commanded, with the deal rising to £135.5m.

On the other side of the coin, United have been forced to pay top money for targets in the recent past, despite protracted negotiations.

That was the case for £50m Aaron Wan-Bissaka and £80m Harry Maguire.

Yet the structure of the deal for Bruno Fernandes in January could serve as a pointer to negotiations for Sancho.

They agreed a 55m euros fee up front, followed by a series of add-ons - 10million euros in achievable targets and a further 15million based on his personal performance, including winning the Ballon d’Or.

A similar structure for Sancho, with £60-70million paid up front is considered more realistic following Covid-19.

The feeling is very much that Sancho has his heart set on a move, which is why the sight of him talking to Dortmund’s in-house TV channel will have had little impact on United.

"I love playing with this lot,” he said. “It is a special bunch. We've got some special young players coming up.

"I am really happy to share the pitch with them and guide them. I was once in their shoes, playing with the seniors. I am happy for them."

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

While Solskjaer refuses to publicly discuss Sancho, his former United teammates have been happy to.

Paul Scholes spoke of United learning their lesson after missing out on Erling Haaland in January - predicting they would splash out on Sancho.

Now Rio Ferdinand has urged them to get the deal done.

"Manchester United should be in the market for the best players," he told BBC Radio 5 Live, while insisting Sancho is the "best" young player in the world "bar none."

He added: He is fantastic. If he does come he'll be an added value in terms of quality, no doubt.

“Manchester United need top players who are going to have an effect on their first XI and I think Jadon Sancho falls into that category.”

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