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Manchester United's pursuit of Jadon Sancho has reportedly hit a snag, with the Red Devils unable to agree a fee with Borussia Dortmund as things stand. The Bundesliga outfit are unwilling to budge on their £108 million valuation of the Englishman, while Manchester United feel such a fee is unrealistic in the current climate due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sancho is one of the most sought-after young players in Europe and is blessed with the unique ability of scoring goals as well as creating them. The 20-year-old notched up a staggering 20 goals and assists apiece in all competitions for Dortmund last season, as he spearheaded them to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.
While Sancho remains keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, reports suggest that he will not agitate for a transfer and is more than happy to stay put in Germany for another season. Manchester United face a race against time to secure his signature and are likely to be frustrated in their efforts to sign their top target.
On that note, here are five players who the Red Devils could turn to this summer if they failed to land Sancho.
#5 David Brooks | Bournemouth
Bournemouth's David Brooks is an intriguing option for Manchester United, having been relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2019-20 season. The Welshman is a prized asset for the Cherries and is reportedly a target for the Red Devils this summer, as they look to offer him a swift return to the Premier League.
An excellent dribbler of the ball with a keen eye for a pass, Brooks could be an interesting addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad. While his gameplay is different from that of Sancho's, the 23-year-old has shown that he has enough quality to play for a top six club in England.
Brooks' creativity and versatility could allow Manchester United to deploy different formations and systems, as they look to compete on all fronts this season.
#4 Federico Chiesa | Fiorentina
Stylistically, Federico Chiesa could be the closest alternative to Jadon Sancho. The Italian is a right-winger by trade and has delivered a series of eye-catching performances for Fiorentina in recent seasons, with his crossing ability getting singled out for special praise on numerous occasions.
Chiesa is also a hard worker off the ball and would fit in like a glove for Manchester United, with Solskjaer looking to add another attacker to his squad to complement the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood. Chiesa, much like Sancho, is capable of scoring goals as well as creating them and is a proven performer at the top level.
The Italy international has been linked with a big-money move to AC Milan this summer and looks set to have a bright future in the game.
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#3 Douglas Costa | Juventus
Juventus winger Douglas Costa is reportedly up for sale this summer, with new manager Andrea Pirlo keen to offload him. The mercurial Brazilian has been linked with Manchester United several times in the past and has been mentioned as an alternative to Sancho by the English press.
Costa's explosive dribbling ability and trickery is well documented, while he is also capable of producing the spectacular with his wand of a left foot. The former Bayern Munich winger, however, has struggled with a series of injuries in recent years, due to which the Red Devils will look to be cautious before splashing the cash for him.
The 30-year-old is available this summer and Manchester United could turn to him on a permanent deal if they fail to land Sancho.
#2 Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona
Hailed as one of the most naturally gifted players in world football, Ousmane Dembele is yet to realise his full potential at Barcelona. The Frenchman signed for the club in the summer of 2017 and has blown hot and cold since then, as he continues to struggle with injuries and inconsistency.
At the age of 23, the former Borussia Dortmund man ticks all the boxes for Manchester United and is worth the risk despite his wretched injury record. Dembele's ability to strike the ball with both feet makes him a useful option to have amongst the squad, as he can be deployed on either flank depending on his availability.
Barcelona still have hopes for the young Frenchman and it remains to be seen if they part ways with him. Manchester United have been linked with a loan move with an option to buy for Dembele, but the Catalans are unlikely to accept a deal under those conditions.
#1 Ivan Perisic | Inter Milan
Not long ago, Manchester United were close to signing Ivan Perisic for a believed to be in excess of £50 million, before the deal hit a snag. The Croatian winger was Jose Mourinho's top target in the summer of 2017 and has once again emerged as an option for the Red Devils.
Perisic enjoyed a stunning loan spell with Bayern Munich last season, where he played a key role as the Bavarian giants won the treble. The 31-year-old is an experienced campaigner and is capable of playing in several positions across the frontline, making him the best short-term option for the Red Devils.
Bayern Munich failed to sign Leroy Sane last summer and snapped up Perisic on a season-long loan deal, after which they eventually managed to land Sane this summer. Manchester United could work out a similar loan deal for the Croatian and make another push for Sancho in 2021 if they failed to land him this summer.
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