Borussia Dortmund executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted that Manchester United pursued winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
United had identified Sancho as their top target and gambled that Dortmund would eventually undercut their £108m asking price, but were stunned when they realized the German side were not just games. Playful and genuinely serious about her position.
Dortmund made their terms clear and United didn’t listen / DeFodi Images/Getty Images
Dortmund made it clear that Sancho would be allowed to leave at the right time for the right price, but United ignored that advice and were ultimately left with egg on their faces when all was said and done. .
“Maybe a club that wanted him got it wrong and believed we were ready to compromise,” Watzke told ZDF Sports of United’s pursuit. “We had a clear line and will continue to do so next summer.
“In this industry, you can never say a player is completely unmarketable. But we don’t want to give up on anyone.
Watzke says Dortmund will be strong next summer
“I heard and read everywhere in the spring that Sancho was gone. But here he is. We had an agreement with him and it didn’t seem like that.”
After realizing that Sancho was no longer available, United were forced to rush to secure a number of deals on deadline day.
£10m was spent on Uruguayan winger Facundo Pelestri from Payroll, but the biggest spend came on 18-year-old Atalanta winger Imad Diallo, who has agreed a £37.3m move to Old Trafford in January.
It remains to be seen whether a significant outlay on Diallo will affect United’s pursuit of Sancho, who is still expected to be heavily linked with a move away from Dortmund when the summer transfer window opens in 2021.
Liverpool have been tipped for a move for the 20-year-old, while Real Madrid and Barcelona are still linked.
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