Borussia Dortmund's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted there is a "limit" to how long the club can fend off interest from Man Utd in Jadon Sancho.
The 20-year-old was United's primary transfer target in the summer but remained with Dortmund after the Red Devils failed to meet his asking price.
Dortmund wanted £108million for the winger but United's highest bid was only said to have been around £91m.
Sancho is under contract with the German club until 2023, meaning Dortmund will be under no pressure to sell next summer if United come calling again.
However, Watzke conceded the effects of the coronavirus pandemic may force Dortmund's hand in the not too distant future.
He told Sport Bild : "We could have made a big, valuable transfer in the summer, that’s well known. But we’re glad it didn’t come to this.
“Of course, we will also implement transfers again in the future, because Covid is clearly throwing us back. Even the biggest clubs are feeling the effects of the pandemic, be it Bayern, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
“At some point you come to the limit of what you can answer for. You can even see that in Munich right now with David Alaba as an example."
Sancho was thought to be keen on completing a switch to Old Trafford in the summer with reports suggesting he had already provisionally agreed terms on a five-year deal.
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Since failing to get his move, Sancho has suffered indifferent form, though was back amongst the goals in last week's win over Zenit St.Petersburg.
But Dortmund boss Lucien Favre hinted the transfer speculation may have had an impact on his player.
"Every player has slow periods," Favre said ahead of the Zenit clash. "There was a lot of talk about Jadon in the summer, something like that can also have an influence.
"But no player is consistently in top form for a year, that's impossible. You have to accept that."
