Why Manchester United must sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund

Manchester United and Jadon Sancho. Five words that have been circulating as a transfer rumour for a year now.

Even with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, the Borussia Dortmund star is still being linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils are desperate to bring Sancho back to England and have been working on a deal for months, hoping it would be completed this summer.

There have been reports that the club are now hesitant in finalising that deal in the current financial climate as Dortmund seek in excess of £100million.

They have a problem with those figures from both a financial perspective and because of how it would be perceived by wider society.

Speaking last month, United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward warned that big-money transfers 'ignore the realities that face the sport'.

While that is true, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already spoken about how the club can 'exploit' the mayhem caused by coronavirus to secure their summer transfer targets.

'Football is going to get back to normality at one point, and it's very important we're ready when that happens,' he told Sky Sports last month.

'We want to be the best at everything, and of course now is a chance to spend more time, you discuss players, discuss plans, we've evaluated what we need, of course with the coaching staff we've looked at games, evaluated games, discussing on video calls like this.

'Then, the market, who knows how the market is going to react to this? Who knows which clubs need to sell players?

'There might be just a situation there where you can exploit, and I know that we at Man United, we are one of the biggest, and financially well off.

'I'm sure we are capable, when we get back to normality, that we can do the business that we want to.'

While Solskjaer's comments came before Woodward's remarks, the former would relish the opportunity of working with Sancho.

If the Norwegian does wish to restore United towards the top of English football then his employers would be wise to 'exploit' the market in landing Sancho.

The 20-year-old would be an automatic starter in Solskjaer's line-up and it would be a true statement of intent to United's rivals.

Before the campaign was curtailed due to Covid-19, United languished a mammoth 37 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool after 29 games.

The club were in the midst of a six-team battle for the final Champions League spot qualification spot for next season. The Red Devils currently sit fifth - three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea but only five points ahead of Arsenal in ninth.

It would be conceivable to think that with Sancho, United would be a lot closer to Liverpool than they currently are.

Against the 'bigger' sides, United have held their own - doing the double over Manchester City and Chelsea this season, beating Tottenham and taking points from Liverpool and Arsenal.

Their issues arise when they face teams who wish to sit in deep defensive blocks. January's woeful 2-0 home defeat by Burnley was a microcosm of that, while the tepid 0-0 draw with Wolves on February 1 was another example of their inability to break down a resolute defence.

The skill, poise and end product of X-factor Sancho would prove another weapon in United's armoury when they're faced against this prospect.

First of all the numbers don't lie. In the Bundesliga this season, the winger has scored a staggering 14 goals alongside 15 assists in just 23 matches. This output has helped Dortmund into second place - just four points off leaders Bayern Munich.

Secondly, the England international would fill a void that United have failed to fill for numerous seasons. He would also be tailor-made for the No 7 shirt should outcast Alexis Sanchez be sold.

Regular watchers of the Old Trafford side have seen the team lack a right-wing presence for years now. The only width has come from the full backs in the shape of ex-players Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, both former wingers converted, or more recently Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Diogo Dalot.

The crux of United's main attacking output has come via their left-hand side. Marcus Rashford has excelled from the left-wing this season, while Anthony Martial and Daniel James are both fond of that role too.

James has often found himself playing on the right wing this season, but it's clear that he's more comfortable on the left. This isn't an issue for the right-sided Sancho though who has left many a left back bamboozled by his trickery throughout games.

A potential front free of Sancho, Martial and Rashford would whet the appetite of all United fans and club legend Rio Ferdinand believes it'd be 'over' for opposition teams.

'Financially Man United are in a stronger position than most, because of the way that the club is structured,' Ferdinand told The Beautiful Game Podcast in April when asked which players he would like to see United sign.

'I'd definitely buy Sancho. Could you imagine Sancho in that team with him drawing two or three players to him and then Rashford is playing one-vs-one? Oh God. It's over.'

Gary Neville, another United great, is optimistic about the club in upcoming transfers windows in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

'United have found it hard to keep prices and wages down but they will be in a really strong position to hold their nerve this summer,' he told Sky Sports on Friday.

'It will be really important, they had found some form before this and the glass looked half full than half empty and being 30 points or whatever it is off Liverpool. I am starting to feel confident United could challenge next season.'

The acquisition of Sancho would make Neville feel even more confident. The question now is: can Woodward land Solskjaer's target? The latter will certainly hope so.