Jadon Sancho looms large as a potential signing next summer for Manchester United, once again.
The MEN reported this week United will ‘probably’ pick up the pursuit of the winger next summer, with the club seeking a ready-made player for the position.
However, Sancho should no longer be viewed as a sure bet to make an instant impact even if he did arrive.
Last season he scored 17 Bundesliga goals, and this season he has none so far.
That’s not the only reason United should be reluctant to pay Dortmund’s £108 million asking price, as was the case this past summer.
As Sancho dominated German football last season, so too did Kai Havertz at Bayer Leverkusen. The 21-year-old netted 18 goals in all competitions in 2019/20.
Upon his move to England, Havertz has struggled. He has just one league goal and one assist in 11 games for Chelsea.
His £72 million fee was a substantial figure, and Chelsea are finding out again that even spending major money offers no guarantees.
United have discovered this too through the years with big name money signings struggling to perform.
With questions over his current form, and Havertz’s struggles to bring his productivity in German football to England, Sancho actually presents a risk rather than a sure-fire investment.
Havertz may come good at Chelsea. He probably will eventually, even if they have to change their manager to make it happen. But United can not look at Sancho as a sure fire answer to our wing problem.
Pressure is different at United
Havertz’s slow start has barely made a ripple in the national media. Criticism is barely existent. Perhaps the press are being understanding of his transition to English football.
That would not be the case at Manchester United. The pressure is just different in Manchester. Look at the way the press tore into Mason Greenwood earlier this season.
If Sancho had signed for United, contributed one goal and one assist in 11 games, and failed to last 90 minutes in any of his last five league appearances, the media would be asking big questions and describing it as a crisis.
This kind of pressure makes it tougher for players to succeed at United. It’s part and parcel of signing for a big club.
At just 20, it’s a lot for Jadon Sancho to handle, and this is all part of why United were reluctant to pay a record fee for him. He is not yet at a level where he is a surefire bet to succeed. As Havertz is showing at present, there are rarely guarantees.
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