Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho continues to establish himself as an elite attacking talent and he now has his eyes on the record of a Manchester United legend.
The 21-year-old this weekend became the first Englishman to reach 10 assists in three straight league seasons in a top five European league since David Beckham.
The ex-England skipper managed the feat between 1997-98 and 2000-01, and Sancho made it three seasons straight as he helped his side to Champions League qualification, as tipped up by Opta.
Sancho - who has also netted 38 Bundesliga goals during his time with the club - has been limited to just 25 league appearances this year due to injury but his attacking output remains excellent.
The England international’s attacking numbers dipped slightly this season after a slow start to the campaign.
But he has been in a rich vein of form in recent weeks, netting 13 goals in his last 20 appearances - including a double in the German Cup final.
Sancho has been a long-term transfer target for United and it is believed that the player’s prospective wages and agent fees were agreed a year ago, with the player a key transfer target this summer.
The chances of the player returning to English football this summer appear likely with Dortmund focusing their efforts on retaining their star striker Erling Haaland beyond this summer.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc this weekend told Sky, when asked about Haaland: “He will play for us next season.”
The Norwegian striking sensation has usurped Sancho as the club’s most prized asset and comments from the club’s hierarchy have opened the possibility of the English player’s exit this summer, should a suitable offer be received.
Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said in March: "Jadon Sancho has been with us much longer than Erling Haaland. We'll have to speak to Jadon too.
"If there is an exceptional offer we will discuss it with the player and the agent, as always.
"Nonetheless, I am very sure that the transfer market will only run to a very limited extent this summer.
"Especially at the really big clubs you can see what kind of wounds coronavirus has inflicted, and they are not small ones that heal within two weeks."
With a move to Old Trafford this summer, the young Englishman could potentially be set to match Beckham's record at the Theatre of Dreams in 2021-22.
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