Assessing Where Jadon Sancho Should Go Next Summer
?Jadon Sancho is currently right up there with the very hottest properties in football, with clubs from all over Europe being linked with the Borussia Dortmund and England star.
At only 19, Sancho has broken into the ?Dortmund first team and has scored 18 goals in all competitions since his debut in 2017, as well as topping the Bundesliga assist charts in 2018/19.
However, with ?Sancho seemingly intent on leaving BVB next the summer, here’s a look at all the places where the wonderkid
Barcelona
Remember Ousmane Dembélé? Sancho could follow in his footsteps if Barcelona come knocking for the English wing wizard. However, he should take the example of Dembélé as a cautionary tale rather than a fantasy and be wary of the risks.
With expectations set sky-high, Sancho might end up being compared to Neymar – and we’ve seen how well that has gone for Dembélé during his time at the Nou Camp so far.
While playing alongside Lionel Messi at arguably Europe’s best club over the last 10 years has its appeal, there are better options for Sancho right now.
Rating: 4/10
Manchester United
The Red Devils have been consistently linked with Jadon Sancho – and, by God, do they need him more than anyone on this list.
The Dortmund wide man could fit in perfectly in a front three with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford with his speed, power and skill, adding further dynamism to the club’s attack.
However, Manchester United are still very much a club in stagnation and the risk for Sancho is that he might waste key development years playing outside of Europe’s top competition – the Champions League.
All faults aside, United are unquestionably a great club for developing young players but Sancho is already ready for the top level and, right now, the Red Devils aren’t that.
Rating: 5/10
Real Madrid
Real Madrid still haven’t managed to fill the Cristino Ronaldo-shaped hole from 2018 and Sancho probably isn’t the man to do it either.
While appealing for a number of reasons a move to the Bernabeu would be a huge step up for Sancho, who would be forced to play in the most scrutinised front three in the whole of European football.
With young exciting Brazilian duo Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior already at the club (and Eden Hazard signed during the summer, lest we forget) Madrid probably don’t really need Sancho right now. But when has need ever dictated their transfer policy?
If Gareth Bale were to leave, a move for Sancho could become a very interesting proposition but the Welshman might want to give the teenager a word of warning about the unique pressures of life as a Galactico…
Rating: 6/10
Bayern Munich
Sancho wouldn’t be the first player to make the controversial switch from Dortmund to their Bundesliga rivals Bayern – see also: Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels, Mario Gotze.
Having lost both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery at the end of last season, Bayern are looking for wingers. Serge Gnabry has filled the role pretty well in recent times but with Leroy Sane and Callum Hudson-Odoi both touted heavily over the summer, it’s clear the Bundesliga champs will buy in this area soon.
Sancho knows the Bundesliga and what it takes to succeed. Yet, a manager-less Bayern side may not be the most attractive proposition at the moment. This move could go one way or another depending on who comes in to fill the void long-term after Niko Kovac departed.
Rating: 7/10
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Liverpool
The ?Champions League
It would be a big step up for Sancho and he would see his game time limited sitting behind a near-undroppable front three. Yet, Liverpool don’t have much else in the wide areas beyond their starters, and Sancho would undoubtedly be an upgrade on the likes of Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Learning from two of the world’s best in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané while under one of the best coaches? Sancho would flourish for the Reds and Liverpool would be the perfect place to go – if he gets the game time.
Rating: 8/10
Manchester City
A return to the club who sold him? A move to City would have some sort of romantic feel to it and is certainly an option for Sancho.
Leroy Sane’s long-term future at the Etihad is questionable, while David Silva will leave at the end of the season. Sancho – who left City in search of first-team opportunity – has the potential to return and make one of the front three positions his own under Pep Guardiola or his eventual successor.
The prospect of Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden linking up for both club and country is another prospect to excite both City and England fans.
Rating: 8/10
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