Deadline Day: Why Manchester United Walked Away From $292M Target Midfielder’s Transfer

Manchester United reportedly ended Jadon Sancho’s transfer saga after they concluded that the deal would cost them at least $292 million.

The $292 million includes Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of $141 million, plus Jadon Sancho’s wage demand and the fee asked by his agent, Emeka Obasi, as reported by The Guardian. The Red Devils decided that this was not feasible during their coronavirus-affected economic situation.

This was the second time this year that Man Utd withdrew from a deal at the last minute, citing financial crisis. During the 2020 January transfer window, Man Utd dropped Erling Haaland’s transfer from RB Salzburg to Old Trafford because of the structure of a deal that included a high payment to the striker’s representative, Mino Raiola.

While Dortmund pushed Man Utd to discuss the transfer with Sancho and his agent, the Premier League side did not budge to Dortmund’s hefty demands, as per The Guardian report.

It was also reported that Man Utd’s chief executive Ed Woodward was furious over the club owners, the Glazer family’s decision to walk away from Sancho’s transfer.

Man Utd also wanted to sign FC Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele on loan as an alternative for Sancho. Unfortunately, the deal did not materialize and the former Premier League champions once again failed to sign a target player. Earlier, Man Utd also wanted to rope in Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, who eventually signed a long-term contract with his boyhood club.

Man Utd have made five signings this summer transfer window. They announced their first arrival after sealing a deal with Ajax for Donny van de Beek last month. Uruguayan legend Edinson Cavani recently moved from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to Man Utd as a free agent. Man Utd completed a deadline day signing of Allex Tellas from FC Porto for a fee of around $17 million. Meanwhile, 18-year-old forward Amad Diallo is set to move from Atalanta to Man Utd in January 2021.