‘No Coronavirus Discount,’ Manchester United Won’t Be Delighted With Latest Update On $146M Target

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has made it clear that the club won’t be providing a “coronavirus discount” for the transfer of their talented midfielder Jadon Sancho.

Watzke has also claimed that Sancho will remain with the German club as the midfielder has shown no interest in leaving in the summer transfer window.

A handful of clubs are interested in signing Sancho, including Manchester United, who are desperate to secure his services to strengthen their squad for the next season. Like the other big European clubs, Man Utd have also been heavily hit financially by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite that, they are not willing to give up on the player as yet while their rival clubs are understood to be put-off with Sancho’s asking price, which is expected to be over $124 million.

It was earlier reported that Sancho’s transfer fee is going to get increased to $146 million and his departure to Old Trafford will depend upon Man Utd’s Champions League qualification because playing in the top European tournament is the utmost priority to the 20-year-old Englishman.

When asked about Sancho’s possible transfer this summer, Dortmund chief Watzke told German publication Sport1, "If Jadon comes up to us and says he absolutely wants to leave – which has not been the case so far – and a club wants to pay what we want, then we will discuss it. I don’t think a club will pay the sum.”

The Dortmund chief, in the same interview, has also mentioned that the club is well passed the phase of selling players and he sees no transfer taking place at the upcoming transfer window.

“There is also no coronavirus discount on him. We have left the period where we had to sell players. I don’t think there will be a summer transfer. We have a more unusual situation next year than usual. With the exception of Achraf Hakimi [who is moving to [Inter Milan], the team will stay together. That helps with development,” he added.

Sancho has scored 20 goals in 44 appearances for Dortmund in 2019-20 season, including 17 in Bundesliga. The 2019-20 season of the German league ended earlier this month, where Dortmund finished second, behind winners Bayern Munich, who have bagged their eighth successive league title.