Manchester United reported interest in Kingsley Coman over the weekend was the most predictable story of the summer.
German outlet Sport1 reported Coman is a priority target for United this summer if the Sancho deal collapses.
Coman is coming off an impressive season in which he scored nine goals and provided 12 assists. He can play on both flanks and is a proven winner. He has titles in France, Italy and Germany, netting the winning goal in the Champions League final in 2020.
The problem is we have heard it all before. This story was always likely to surface at some stage again this summer, and it’s pretty telling that it emerges after United’s first bid for Sancho had gone in and had been rejected [BBC].
The illusion of an alternative
United are going all in for Sancho. Don’t buy the Coman rumours for a moment.
But as far as United’s negotiators go, they will want to provide an illusion of an alternative, as a warning to Dortmund that the club could look elsewhere.
Coman is of course a very good player who would fit in well at United. Sport1 reports he could be available at 50m Euros (£43 million).
This is due to his Bayern contract expiring in 2023. This is the other factor at play here.
The Bundesliga champions want to renew his deal, and that’s likely what will happen. United’s reported interest benefits Coman’s camp in negotiations too.
United were linked to Coman in summer of 2020. ESPN reported the winger was an alternative to Jadon Sancho then. And in the end United did nothing.
They won’t act on interest in Coman this time around either. Sancho is the top target and interest in the Bayern winger is just a ploy to put pressure on Dortmund.
A checkmark in negotiations
It always makes sense to have alternatives. But we know by now as we enter our third summer of this, than United have no real alternatives to Sancho.
This is just one more story to check off on the ‘Sancho transfer pursuit’ Bingo card.
There is often a ‘plan B’ linked. It was the same when United pursued Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Max Aarons’ name did the rounds.
Last summer Sergio Reguilon was linked at left-back when United’s top target was Alex Telles.
Coman’s name coming up suits United, and it doesn’t hurt the player either.
But when all is said and done, this summer United will be moving for Sancho, and not Coman. Talk of the Bayern winger is just speculation, unless something really goes wrong.
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