Manchester United fans are still waiting to see Jadon Sancho in training, let alone a game.
That time will soon come, with the MEN reporting he will join training this Friday, but it’s been a long wait.
That is underlined by the fact that it is a year ago today since the Guardian reported that United had agreed terms with Sancho.
The move felt so close then
The Sancho saga was agonising last summer. But when this report came out, it felt like United were finally getting somewhere.
The report claimed that United were close to agreeing a fee for the England winger, and both clubs were confident a deal would get done.
United were apparently set to pay an initial £90 million – in three installments – and £18 million in add-ons. But obviously that didn’t happen.
And it ended up saving United time and money this summer.
How the deal got done
When United went back in for Sancho this summer, personal terms weren’t a problem as they’d already been agreed in 2020.
The Guardian report United agreed to pay Sancho £250,000-a-week.
That meant United could get straight on with negotiating a fee with Dortmund.
The German club had been staunch in their desire to hold out for £108 million in 2020. The situation had changed by this summer.
Dortmund plan to sell one major asset per year and Sancho was the one for 2021. Next summer, it’ll be Erling Haaland.
Having given Dortmund an extra year and agreed personal terms with United already, Sancho’s exit was a much smoother affair this year.
The Telegraph claim United will pay £72.9 million, with the Athletic reporting the fee will be paid over five years.
Perhaps United’s new transfer team, John Murtough and Darren Fletcher, ensured that negotiations didn’t drag on as long this time around too.
A year after first agreeing terms with United, Sancho still hasn’t worn the famous red shirt in a game. But it won’t be long now and it’ll be worth the wait.
- Every former Man Utd player to play in MLS after Eric Bailly’s latest move
- Jason Wilcox has just shown why Amorim had to be sacked with pointed praise for Michael Carrick
- Newcastle’s £46m rejected bid proves that Man Utd have completed the best deal of the summer
- Michael Carrick might have provided a hint on Patrick Dorgu plans as transfer priority becomes clear
- Who is Tynan Thompson? Exciting Spurs wonderkid linked with move to Man Utd
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
