Manchester United should aim to get the deal for Jadon Sancho done as quickly as possible – but should not be bullied by Dortmund into a rash decision over time or money, says former United star Paul Parker.
The German club gave United a deadline of today to complete the signing and have also refused to budge from their asking price of €120m. But Sancho has been included on their pre-season training camp, and with United currently in Germany for their Europa League knockout schedule, it does not appear as if a deal is imminent.
Parker believes that while Sancho would be a good addition, it is not a deal that United should labour over – insisting that Dortmund shouldn’t make an ultimatum.
“It would be good to get out done as early as possible,” he said. “I will say this, United don’t want to have their bottom spanked over the fee. There’s no deadline, despite what Dortmund say. They can’t set the deadline. The only way that deal would have had to be done today was if it was transfer deadline day.”
Parker believes that the fee could also be prohibitive, and warned of the danger of a protracted transfer like the saga over Harry Maguire last year.
“I’ve watched bits of him – I’ve watched him play for England and he’s done bits and bobs but he hasn’t made a mark for them like Wayne Rooney did for example,” said Parker. “I’m a little bit concerned about people saying United must get this deal done at whatever cost when they possibly haven’t even watched that much of Sancho. It’s guesswork.
“I would ask how necessary he is of a signing when United have Greenwood, Martial, Rashford and James, all players who like to play wide. I don’t think United can afford to start next season without a proper centre-forward, and for the money they are prepared to spend on Sancho, you can get an established forward with a goalscoring record that proves his quality.
“If Sancho does sign, and for that amount of money, he will have to hit the ground running. I don’t want to see Ole put under the sort of pressure that will be inevitable if all his money is tied up in one player, especially when there are other positions and needs that are more pressing for the foundation of this team.”
