Manchester United’s transfer window is looking set to end in a world of chaos despite already signing five players and trimming the squad massively.
That is because the spectre of Jadon Sancho hangs over the team and his wages plus Manchester United’s asking price makes it impossible to do a straight deal.
It looked like Juventus were favourites for his signature at one point but the rumour of a potential Raheem Sterling-Jadon Sancho swap refuse to go away.
Fans are reticent as Sterling to Man United would create an unwanted piece of English football history but how about about another Chelsea player?
Manchester United walk away from Ben Chilwell interest
Chelsea have pretty much another XI in their “bomb squad”, which is a list of players who have been told they have no future at the club.
Raheem Sterling is the biggest name on that list but joining him in that predicament is left-back Ben Chilwell.
The Independent reported that Manchester United have ‘stepped up’ talks with Chelsea over a potential Ben Chilwell transfer.
However, they have since updated their report to state United have made a decision not to move for Chilwell.
A deal would have been independent of the Sterling-Sancho swap.
The report states that both clubs are locked in negotiations for the last 72 hours as they sense an opportunity to fix each others’ squad issues with creative deals and financial trickery.
Chilwell joined Chelsea in 2020 and in nearly five years, has made only 106 appearances across all competitions.
Chilwell was not the answer
What’s worse than having two injury-prone left-backs who can’t be depended upon?
Apparently, if this report is to be believed, Ineos don’t think the answer is three injury-prone left-backs who can’t be depended upon.
In the past three seasons, Chilwell has missed 45, 20, and 35 games across all competitions as various injuries have kept him out for 178, 117, and 151 days respectively.
If United were in search of a left-back with even less availability than Luke Shaw, then they should pat themselves on the back because they’ve found one in Chilwell.
This is not even taking into consideration the signing of Noussair Mazraoui, who has slotted in seamlessly into the team but has a slightly questionable injury record.
As it stands, United have one completely dependable fullback- Diogo Dalot. If they sign Chilwell, the number of completely dependable fullbacks at Old Trafford will go all the way to….one.
Moreover, the club will have saved Chelsea from spending millions in wages on two members of their bomb squad, while sending them a 24-year-old who showed signs of succeeding in a different environment at Borussia Dortmund last season.
This is a trap that United must walk away from.
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