A Manchester United struggler who has ‘never’ been happy at the club is being monitored by his former team, while Newcastle are eyeing a double raid on a relegated side, and the potential first English player to move to Saudi Arabia has been revealed – all in Tuesday’s transfer gossip.
SANCHO LINKED WITH DORTMUND RETURN
Man Utd are thinking of listening to offers for Jadon Sancho this summer and a report in the German press has confirmed he is under observation by Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho was the subject of intense interest from Man Utd in 2020, but they failed to agree a deal with Dortmund. One year later, they finally managed to bring the winger back to England.
However, Sancho has been an underwhelming player for Man Utd. Whereas he left Dortmund with 50 goals from 137 games behind him, he has only scored 12 goals from 79 games for Man Utd.
In turn, he was included on a long list of players Man Utd are willing to clear out by the Daily Mail recently. Though not officially up for sale yet, it was claimed that an offer of £45m from another club could be accepted.
An update since from the sports branch of German newspaper Bild has revealed that Dortmund have ‘never broken off’ contact with Sancho.
Indeed, his situation is being ‘observed’ carefully by the Bundesliga runners up, who have just sold another England international, Jude Bellingham, to Real Madrid.
Dortmund are relatively well stocked in Sancho’s territory on the wings and may prefer to invest in other roles.
That said, a second spell with the Black and Yellows is ‘not impossible’, the report claims. Sancho could follow in the footsteps of Shinji Kagawa, who joined Man Utd from Dortmund in 2012 before being returned to sender two years later.
However, Kagawa wasn’t as efficient in his second spell at Dortmund as his first, so Sancho would be hoping to hit the ground running again instead if he was to end up back with BVB.
Rather dramatically, Bild indicates that Sancho has ‘never [been] happy’ at Man Utd. But to go back to Germany, he might have to reduce his salary, which is a bit beyond reach for Dortmund at present.
NEWCASTLE CLOSE TO CAPTURING LIVRAMENTO
A deal for Newcastle to sign Tino Livramento from Southampton is progressing, according to reports.
Newcastle were linked with Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters on Monday, before it emerged that they are in for Livramento, who plays in the same position.
Livramento looks like the option they are focusing on, since the Daily Telegraph claims they are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign him.
There is a difference in how Newcastle and Southampton value Livramento at present, but the deal could eventually go through for £15m. That is half of the relegated club’s ideal asking price, though.
Per the Telegraph, Newcastle have even suggested sending Ryan Fraser to Southampton in a part-exchange deal.
Interestingly, Eddie Howe is also an admirer of James Ward-Prowse, with Southampton set to finally cash in on their captain this summer.
In theory, Newcastle could launch a double bid to Southampton for Livramento and Ward-Prowse. But things seem to be more advanced with the former at this stage.
SECOND LIVERPOOL LEAVER LINKED WITH SAUDI SWITCH
Recently, Roberto Firmino was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia after his contract at Liverpool expired.
And according to the Daily Mail, Firmino could be followed to the Middle East by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is also about to become a free agent after his time with Liverpool.
Plenty of players are moving to the Saudi Professional League, but no Englishman has yet gone there. Oxlade-Chamberlain, then, could be the first.
The former Arsenal midfielder is said to be considering the offer from Saudi Arabia. Which club he might join there hasn’t filtered through yet.
He could yet reject the opportunity in favour of continuing his career in Europe. But on that front, it is unclear where his next step might take him.
Out of necessity, he might have to pay close attention to the lucrative offer that might be coming his way from Saudi Arabia.
