Manchester United have been credited with showing interest in two of Bundesliga’s biggest talents, Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz. The Red Devils have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jadon Sancho for quite some time now. But recent reports insist that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to complete the signing of Bayer Leverkusen youngster Kai Havertz when the transfer market reopens this summer.
As per recent reports, Manchester United are exploring all the possibilities of getting Sancho on board, and have identified the Englishman as their premium target this summer.
However, it has also been claimed that Solskjer is more likely to seal the singing of Havertz first.
Given the current financial uncertainties surrounding most football clubs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they might have to cut short their ambition in order to balance their books.
Manchester United are likely to face the same problem and might have to pick either one of the two youngsters.
As a result, we have tried to analyze who between Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz should Manchester United sign.
Jadon Sancho:
Pros:
A proper number 9:
Since the departure of Robin van Persie in 2015, the Red Devils have struggled to find an out and out number 9, who can single-handedly change the outcome of a game in a blink of an eye. Radamel Falcao, Romelu Lukaku, and now Anthony Martial, have tried very hard to stamp their authority at Old Trafford but found very little success. For a brief time, Zlatan Ibrahimovic lead the lines well, scoring some crucial goals in the process.
Jadon Sancho can fit in a variety of roles, ranging from a central striker, second striker, or a left-sided winger. So far this campaign, in 39 appearances for Dortmund, the 20-year-old has scored on 20 occasions, besides providing 20 assists. With an eye for goal and a habit of setting up others to finish, Sancho can directly fit in the role of a number nine at Old Trafford.
A world-beater in the making:
Jadon Sancho with his skills and tricks has already set the world alight and looks all set to become one of the best in the business in the upcoming years. The 20-year-old has often been deployed in the role of a left-sided attacker, drifting infield with his electrifying pace and playmaking ability, which allows him to shoot or create chances for his teammates.
In only 94 appearances for Dortmund, Sancho has managed to provide 43 assists, in addition to finding the back of the net on 34 occasions. Due to his explosive style of play, Sancho, at such a young age, looks like a world-beater in the making, and Manchester United shouldn’t waste the opportunity of luring the attacker away from Signal Iduna Park.
Cons:
Could hamper the development of Manchester United’s existing youth brigade:
With numerous attacking-minded players in their ranks, including the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Daniel James, Manchester United have an excellent array of players to chose from. Besides, their recent surge in the Premier League table is mainly due to these youngsters. So, with the arrival of Sancho this summer, there remains a possibility of the development of the younger players at Old Trafford getting hampered.
Kai Havertz:
Pros:
Filling the void of an attacking midfielder:
With Paul Pogba’s future still undecided at Old Trafford, Kai Havertz can fill in the role of a proper attacking midfielder. Often compared with Mesut Ozil, Havertz is a versatile midfielder, who excels in an advanced playmaking role. For Bayer Leverkusen this season, Havertz has been deployed as a second striker, with the youngster often drifting further back to link-up play between the midfielders and forwards. Manchester United need a player like Havertz, who can occupy the false-10 role, and initiate moves with his sharp footballing brain.
An eye for goal:
Kai Havertz is a quick, versatile, agile, and technically gifted two-footed player, who has a knack of finding the back of the net on a regular basis. The 20-year-old has already managed to score on 15 occasions for Leverkusen in the present campaign. In fact, Havertz has been in the headlines for all the right reasons, especially due to his explosive form in the Bundesliga since it’s resumption last month. The naturally-gifted midfielder has scored five goals in his last three starts for Leverkusen and has attracted interest from the biggest of clubs across Europe.
Cons:
The combusting nature of Premier League:
Kai Havertz, 20, is a young talent who needs nurturing. He is bound to face difficulties when it comes to adapting to the physicality of the Premier League. To add another point into the mix, Leverkusen won’t let Havertz leave cheaply. So, at such an early age, in a foreign league and with the added pressure of the price tag, the German prodigy will have his work cut out.
Verdict:
After discussing all the pros and cons, it makes more sense from Manchester United’s point of view to rope in Sancho rather than Havertz, who is far from a finished article.
Follow us on facebook for more sports news & updates