Real Madrid have identified several players this summer to bolster their attacking options. However, the deals for Mbappe and Haaland look challenging to crack at this moment with their parent clubs not interested in letting go off their prized possessions, for the time being, forcing the Spanish giants to look elsewhere.
Evening Standard are now reporting that Zidane is keeping tabs on Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund, who is also on the radar of clubs like Manchester United. The report further says that the transfer of Sancho would also depend on the situation of Gareth Bale, who is not in the plans of the French manager.
The need for a player like Sancho
Last season the Madrid side brought in Luka Jovic to compensate for the loss of Ronaldo. The club probably had the idea that the Serbian would be able to light up the La Liga by regularly putting his name on the score-sheet. However, that has hardly been the case with the 22-year-old finding the back of the net only twice from his 15 appearances. Moreover, Karim Benzema is 32 now, and many expect him to decline in the next couple of seasons, prompting the gaffer to search for someone who would bring with him plenty of goals.
That has given rise to the need of Real Madrid moving in for Mbappe and Haaland, who are guaranteed goal-scorers. These players not being available has put a dent in Real Madrid’s hopes of finding an elusive replacement of Ronaldo, and that is where Jadon Sancho comes in.
Is Sancho the answer?
The English player, though primarily playing just behind the striker, is a prolific goal-scorer, with 17 goals under his belt this season in the Bundesliga. The 20-year-old plays as an attacking midfielder, although he has been deployed at the right side of the frontline more often for the German team. His maturity is beyond his age, and that has helped him take the football world by storm.
A scoring midfielder, pretty much in the mould of Bale, Sancho could be the answer to Los Blancos attacking problems next season and Zidane could rely upon him week in week out. For a player with so many goals, Sancho has only taken 1.8 shots per game, highlighting the precision of the Englishman. Although a player with breathtaking pace, the ex-Manchester City man likes to dribble with the ball at his feet. In the German top tier, he has completed 2.4 dribbles per 90 minutes, again showing why he could be the ideal replacement for the Welshman.
Only mentioning the scoring ability of Sancho would be doing injustice to the player as he has also created 18 assists this season across all competitions. His passing range is exceptional, completing 84.9% of his total attempted passes in the league. Moreover, the England international has also made 2.3 key passes per match this term. Thus, it can be safely said that in Sancho, Real would get not only a player with a keen eye for goal but also someone who can set up his teammates when required.
Overall, the Madrid side would be blessed with a next-generation superstar if they can rope in Sancho this season as he would be the perfect answer to Bale’s absence. Whether or not they need another centre-forward next season despite having Sancho in the squad, would be a question for the manager to answer next season.
Stats from Whoscored.
