According to a recent report by The Daily Mirror, Liverpool have dropped their interest in recruiting Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho leaving Manchester United and Arsenal to fight it out for his signature this summer. The same source has mentioned that the Reds are not one of the clubs monitoring the English playmaker’s situation at Signal Iduna Park with Dortmund demanding around £100m for their prized asset.
Sancho’s Spectacular Season In The Bundesliga
Sancho has enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his playing career under Lucien Favre’s tutelage after putting in many productive displays in the Bundesliga so far. The ex-Manchester City prospect has found the back of the net 17 times and has provided 19 assists in 35 matches for the German outfit this term on all fronts which goes to show just how much he has improved in the German top-flight over the past eight months.
The 20-year-old has averaged 2.0 shots, 2.3 key passes and 2.6 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga this season (stats via whoscored). His remarkable numbers have enhanced his reputation across Europe, which is why it is no wonder that two of England’s most famous clubs are battling it out for his services. However, Liverpool are unlikely to meet Dortmund’s high demands, and so it is understandable why they have decided to bow out of the race to sign Sancho this summer.
The London-born youngster has represented the England national team in 11 matches while netting two goals for the Three Lions in the process. If the talented winger can continue to produce similar numbers next season, then he should have a fair shot of making himself a guaranteed starter for Gareth Southgate’s first-team in the UEFA European Championship, which will now take place in the summer of 2021 due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
What Will The England International Add To Solskjaer’s Side?
Sancho is versatile enough to play on either flank and has proven himself to be a valuable asset at Dortmund. The ex-Watford youth product can retain possession well for his team as evidenced by his pass success rate of 84.4% in the German first division this season (stats via whoscored). He can put his quickness and agility to full use when attempting to beat his marker in a 1v1 footrace out on the wide areas. What makes him such a highly sought-after talent is his ability to score and create goals consistently at the highest level.
Liverpool Drop Their Interest In Sancho: Big Mistake Or Did Klopp Make The Right Call?
If the reports are accurate about Liverpool’s decision to rule out a move for Sancho this summer, then it seems more to do with Dortmund’s £100m asking price rather than the actual quality of the player. It would have taken a club-record offer for the Reds to stand a chance of bringing the English playmaker to Anfield this summer. Klopp has currently got no immediate need to reinforce his attack unless of one of Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah leaves the club in the coming months. Otherwise, Sancho wouldn’t have been a guaranteed starter at Merseyside.
When all things are considered, it seems like a logical decision by Klopp and Michael Edwards to drop out of the chase to land Sancho during the summer transfer period. With the COVID-19 pandemic expected to have a big toll on the club’s finances, the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup winners would have been in a risky position if they decided to splash big-money on the England international. Hence, Klopp has made the correct call financially by opting against such a move this summer.
