Dortmund said to be open to expensive January agreement over Sancho

It has not felt like transfer season is less than a month away. Now a Jadon Sancho rumour has emerged, it’s beginning to feel real.

Eurosport report Borussia Dortmund are ready to listen to proposals for Sancho in January.

There are two conditions; (a) that any deal be a pre-agreement for the summer, and (b) their asking price of £108 million has not changed.

Borussia Dortmund v Club Brugge - UEFA Champions League — ( Photo by Nico Vereecken / Photo News via Getty Images)

Swift deal has clear advantages

Moving early would have benefits for United. Firstly there would be peace of mind in the summer.

Sancho would be in, ready to join at the earliest possible date, and there would be no uncertainty, sparing fans another lengthy drawn out saga which could stretch to deadline day.

With other areas of the team needing to be strengthened too, United’s plans would not get held back by a long Sancho pursuit, because a deal would already be done, and United would know the finances left to play with.

United can also benefit from moving now by avoiding extra competition for Sancho’s signature. Premier League rivals and Spain’s top clubs could get involved, which would drive Sancho’s price tag up.

Strong performances at Euro 2021 could inflate Sancho’s price tag further. So United might actually end up striking a bargain for the young winger.

United have shown patience

Missing out on a player in the summer and then moving for him in January would be repeating the actions taken over Bruno Fernandes last time around. So don’t count against United doing it.

The club have also shown patience with Amad Diallo, signing an agreement to land him in the summer window, even though he is unable to join until January.

Dortmund themselves struck an agreement like this with Christian Pulisic and Chelsea in January 2019. This was necessary due to the Blues’ transfer ban, but it worked out well for both clubs.

Having some clarity over his future is likely to benefit Sancho too, giving him peace of mind.

FC Augsburg v Borussia Dortmund - Bundesliga — (Photo by Peter Fastl/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

What about the money?

£108 million was deemed too expensive by United in the summer, and that may not have changed set against a still uncertain financial climate.

One x-factor in play is the increasing likelihood Paul Pogba will be sold in January after Mino Raiola’s comments to Tuttosport.

If United get an extra £50-60 million up front from Pogba, this could be put straight towards a fee for Sancho.

In the summer BILD reported Dortmund only wanted around £70 million up front and the rest in future installments.

There is a strong case for United doing a January deal, and Dortmund’s reported openness to listening bodes well, if Sancho really is the player United are determined to sign.