Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Steffen Freund has warned Manchester United against a big-money move for Jadon Sancho this summer.
United had looked in pole position to land Sancho for a fee north of £100million this summer before the financial burden of the coronavirus pandemic forced them into a rethink over their ambitious transfer plans.
Ed Woodward has indicated that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s spending power will be limited by the Covid-19 shutdown, and Freund echoed that warning.
"I'm not sure now is the right time for £100million transfers. Football will be hit financially by coronavirus," he said.
Regardless Freund, who won two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Dortmund, wants to see more from the England international before he takes a step up.
He added: "I think Sancho is on the way to being European class but it will be three years before he is at his best.
"Already, he is one of the top players in Germany. Although he has done many good things, he has to do better in the important games. Against Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, it was as though he was not on the pitch.
"That is why he is not yet top European class. I was co-commentating on Bayern's 4-0 win over Dortmund [when] Sancho was subbed in the first half.
"In those matches, you want him to make a big difference. But, he will one day play for Manchester United, Real Madrid or Barcelona."
