Man Utd sign off move for rising Schalke star as Sancho plan B
Manchester United will pursue a deal for Schalke winger Rabbi Matondo if their attempts to sign Jadon Sancho in the next transfer window fail, according to a report.
Sancho was among the top targets for the Red Devils last summer and that stance has not changed, despite the Borussia Dortmund winger staying in the Bundesliga and enjoying a further hike in his transfer value.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought in three young, British recruits last summer in Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire and wants to continue that trend with Three Lions international Sancho.
However, Sancho’s price is expected to remain above £80million amid the financial uncertainties surrounding football, given that Dortmund are in no rush to sell players.
As such, the Manchester Evening News has claimed that Schalke winger Matondo – who has scored one goal in his 14 appearances this season – is the club’s plan B.
The newspaper claims that the 19-year-old is seen as a more “cost-effective” option to Sancho and would be brought in as a “low-risk” buy, similar to the acquisition of James from Swansea.
United’s decision to solidify Matondo as their number two target has partly come from club legend and now-Wales boss Ryan Giggs, who has picked the youngster in all o his squads since the youngster’s debut in November 2018.
Indeed, Schalke – unlike United – are expected to sell some top talent this summer as they battle to avoid the financial harm expected to be done to clubs across the continent by the global health crisis.
And Matondo – who moved to Schalke from Manchester City in January last year – could be among those to go.
Another player Solskjaer is reportedly keen on is Birmingham teenager Jude Bellingham, who was shown around the Red Devils’ Carrington training complex earlier this season.
Reports have claimed that Bellingham will be promised a senior role under Solskjaer in order for United to beat Borussia Dortmund to the 16-year-old’s signature.
