Liverpool are monitoring Jadon Sancho’s situation and may yet challenge Manchester United and Real Madrid, in what could become one of the year’s biggest transfer sagas.
The Old Trafford hierarchy have been confident they can secure the forward’s signing this summer, but that will still be dependent on Champions League qualification. Sancho and his camp see continued involvement in Europe’s elite competition as a priority.
If United fail to qualify – a chase that is now also complicated by Manchester City’s possible ban – Liverpool would sense an opportunity.
The Independent understands Sancho has been made aware of their current interest.
However, finance is an issue for Liverpool. They did not move for RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner due to budget reasons amid the Covid-19 crisis, losing out to Chelsea, and their FSG owners are said to be feeling some constraints with no MLB games for their Boston Red Sox.
Signing Sancho would require at least £80m and the extent of his wage demands would also necessitate improvements for Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. United would also be able to financially trump Liverpool.
If the Old Trafford hierarchy cannot secure Sancho, however, there is hope that some deal can be done, maybe even in a year’s time.
There is also a feeling that if Jurgen Klopp does want the player that badly, funds will be found. That is obviously much likelier if one of Mane or Salah are sold.
Sancho himself is said to see Liverpool as a more attractive option. Klopp has spoken to the player in the past, told him how much he admires him, and said there would always be a place if Salah and Mane stay. The Dortmund forward could play anywhere across Liverpool’s front line.
Sancho’s camp meanwhile have some doubt over whether it is the right time for a move to Madrid, who are keen.
It is not impossible he stays at Dortmund for another season, although the expectation is that he will move this year.
