Manchester United are relaxed about their pursuit of Jadon Sancho amid attempts by Borussia Dortmund to pressurise them into making an early bid.
A report in Germany this week claimed United had submitted a £90million offer for priority target Sancho, 20, but the club denied any bid had been made on the first day of the summer transfer window and Dortmund figures have privately admitted the same.
The MEN understands United believe Dortmund are attempting to arouse interest in Sancho from other clubs to accelerate a deal before their pre-season fixtures start.
German sources say Dortmund want to sell Sancho - valued in excess of €100m - by August 10 - the day United are due to play their Europa League quarter-final in Cologne - and two days before Dortmund face Altach in Austria. The transfer window closes on October 5 and Sancho is expected back at Dortmund's training ground for a coronavirus test today.
Chelsea have been linked with Sancho, a boyhood Chelsea fan, but have already signed forwards Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner and are working on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz. Should Chelsea sign Havertz they are then expected to reinforce their porous defence amid interest in United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell.
United are in advanced negotiations with Inter Milan for the permanent sale of Alexis Sanchez and have been dependent on selling players before buying in recent windows.
Sanchez is United's highest earner on £400,000-a-week and one of 11 senior attackers in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first-team squad. Tahith Chong is expected to head out on a season-long loan next season and Jesse Lingard could be sold.
The MEN previously revealed Sancho had told friends he would relish the opportunity to join United. Sancho has entered the last two years of his Dortmund contract and is intent on leaving the Bundesliga side rather than signing a renewal.
United are long-time admirers of Sancho, having tried to sign him from City in 2017, and were unsuccessful in a move to buy the England international last year due to their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
