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#3 Manchester United’s track record with recent big-money signings
Jadon Sancho became the third-most-expensive signing in Manchester United’s history, with all the top ten expensive transfers belonging to the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
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Following Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden 27-year spell at Old Trafford, Manchester United have struggled on and off the pitch. Their off-field struggles have been most apparent in the transfer market, where exorbitant amounts of cash have been splurged on what turned out to be bad investments. The Louis Van Gaal era is the foremost example of such exorbitant spendings, as the Red Devils signed Angel Di Maria for €74.6 million and Radamel Falcao on a reported £16m season-long loan deal.
One of Manchester United’s most recent mishaps in the transfer market was the swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan that brought Alexis Sanchez to Old Trafford. The Chilean became one of the highest earners in United’s locker room, with a wage bill upwards of £350,000-per-week.
One might also argue that United have not managed to recoup the €105 million transfer fee spent on Paul Pogba in the summer of 2016, with the Frenchman’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season.
#2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s role in the attacking third
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has established himself as one of the best defensive fullbacks in world football currently, but leaves a lot to be desired in the opposition half.
Modern football has redefined the role of a fullback, as they are expected to contribute equally in defense and attack. While Aaron Wan-Bissaka has displayed immense defensive prowess in his role at right-back, he is not known for putting in penetrating crosses or passes in the attacking third.
This may prove to be a cause for concern, as Jadon Sancho could feel the absence of a potent attacking support on the right flank. As discussed before, Jadon Sancho would need some time to establish an understanding with his teammates, and it is imperative for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to ease the process by providing support on the right wing.
#1 Will need time to reacclimatize to English football
As we’ve witnessed time and time again, footballers coming to the Premier League after a long stint elsewhere take some time to settle.
The likes of Angel Di Maria and Henrikh Mkhitaryan never managed to adapt to life at Old Trafford, despite their world-class performances in the Spanish and German leagues, respectively. Mkhitaryan was regarded as one of the best playmakers in the continent during his time at Borussia Dortmund, but he failed to recreate those performances in the Premier League.
Radamel Falcao arrived at Old Trafford as one of the most feared strikers in world football but failed to make any sort of impact. He was released upon completion of the first year of his loan deal, and the Colombian’s subsequent spell at Chelsea wasn’t memorable either. Falcao managed to score a solitary goal in 12 appearances for the Blues, but he looked right at home in his first season back at Monaco.
After a torrid spell in the Premier League, Falcao registered 30 goals and 6 assists in 43 appearances for AS Monaco in the 2016-17 campaign. The Premier League is clearly not everyone’s cup of tea, and Jadon Sancho is yet to prove himself in the English domestic league.
Unlike those mentioned above, Sancho is an English native, hailing from Camberwell in London. Having grown up in Englamd, the 21-year old may not require as much time to acclimatize to English conditions. However, the physical demands of the Premier League and a difference in playing style from the Bundesliga will surely need some getting used to.
