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Manchester United transfer news: Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, Diogo Dalot, Alexis Sanchez and more

All the latest news, gossip and rumours as Solskjaer’s side prepare to compete in Champions League

Karl Matchett
Wednesday 29 July 2020 12:21 BST
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demands more as Manchester United finish third

Manchester United secured a top-four finish on the final day of the Premier League season.

The sporting significance is that it gets them, of course, back into the Champions League for 2020/21; the financial boost which accompanies that step-up in competition will be equally important.

This summer was always likely to be a big one for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in sounding out new recruits and boosting his side’s overall quality, but it will be far easier now.

Offering the lure of elite European football and having the financial backing to compete for top players was a critical part of the club’s strategy for the summer, making that final-day win over Leicester an imperative one.

Already the rumours are flying over who United will sell and sign; here’s a roundup of the latest.

One of the ongoing sagas is the Red Devils’ interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho. Sky Sports reports that there has been “no official bid” for the player, but that United are the only club to contact the Bundesliga side about the England international. BVB are happy to keep Sancho for another year, even if it means they get far less for him in 2021.

The Independent‘s own Miguel Delaney adds to this that United and Dortmund are around £10-15 million apart in their valuation of Sancho, and United will next turn their attention to Jack Grealish after Solskjaer appreciated just how much his squad was stretched after Project Restart.

On the outgoing side, Barcelona have shown an interest in Diogo Dalot, reports ESPN. The full-back is behind at least four players in Solskjaer’s order of preference across both sides of the defence and he’ll have to depart to find regular action—as will Phil Jones, who is not in Solskjaer’s plans.

Chris Smalling, however, seems unlikely to now sign permanently with AS Roma, where he has been on loan. The Italian side have not agreed a fee with United for Smalling, say Corriere dello Sport, and they are now looking at other options including Jan Vertonghen, who is on a free transfer.

And Inter Milan want to make Alexis Sanchez a permanent member of their squad, but the Mail have CEO Giuseppe Marotta highlighting the Chilean’s prohibitive wages as being a big problem, suggesting Alexis has a “heavy contract” which “must be evaluated” before any deal is concluded. Alexis has found form recently in Serie A, so will no doubt be keen on the move.

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