The talk of Mason Greenwood’s scintillating form in the Premier League is perhaps only eclipsed by that of his teammate, Bruno Fernandes - but the performances of the youngster shouldn’t stop Manchester United pursuing Jadon Sancho.
Multiple transfer windows have come and gone, and United should count themselves fortunate Greenwood burst onto the scene to fill the void on the right wing, and it’s now easy to forget that Greenwood’s favoured position is through the middle.
Signing a genuine right winger has to become a priority at Old Trafford, as in 2020/21 the side looks to surmount its first genuine title challenge in the eight season since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the dugout - with their fourth permanent manager finally steering the ship in a direction that has a destination, rather than aimlessly navigating waters of turgid football.
Liverpool romped their way to the title this season, with their success only cast in shadow by the coronavirus pandemic and a possible season cancellation. Manchester City never truly looked to be the beast they were last season, as the 23-point chasm would indicate. The less said of the 34 points between United and Liverpool, the better.
Speaking purely in an attacking context, Liverpool have to count themselves lucky that none of Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino sustained serious injuries this campaign. The drop in quality in their understudies of Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Takumi Minamino is a dangerous game for Jürgen Klopp to play - hence their pursuit of Timo Werner.
Klopp’s fears were exemplified in January, when it seemed that the Africa Cup of Nations would be moved back to January. He would be without Salah or Mane for a maximum of six weeks.
For any team to lose two of its most crucial players is a hammer blow. But if you consider Manchester City’s squad for this season and use combined goals and assists as the metric, the same which provides Salah and Mane as Liverpool’s best players, the top two players are Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
Removing de Bruyne and Sterling from the squad still leaves David Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden - who has 13 goal involvement this season; Origi has nine.
The inability of Liverpool to implement any meaningful rotation throughout their season could be attributed as a deciding factor to them ‘only’ winning the Premier League. At one stage they seemed on course for the treble. But at one stage, three fixtures in seven days saw Klopp’s side unceremoniously dumped from the FA Cup by Chelsea.
Solskjaer may even reflect back to his own days amongst one of United’s greatest sides, in the 1998/1999 season. Himself, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham were all available as forwards, while Ryan Giggs and David Beckham offered their services out wide.
United’s current alternatives on the right wing are an out-of-position Daniel James, a Juan Mata far better suited to the middle, or Diogo Dalot pushed forward - which he needs time to adapt to, if he is to become the jack-of-all-trades he is capable being.
It’s difficult not to make the argument that Sancho’s arrival would be something of a threat to the game-time Greenwood would have throughout the season. True, he may not play as much. But given the flurry of fixtures currently ahead of United, the ability to rotate and avoid injury is crucial. If they make the Champions League next season, a condition crucial to Sancho’s arrival, it will become even more important to bolster the squad with players capable of starting any fixture but maintaining quality in the side. And removing pressure from the shoulders of Greenwood, not yet 19, may prove comforting for him and afford him the ability to play with the abandon many have come to admire.
Consideration has to be given to two influencing factors when comparing Sancho and Greenwood. Firstly, their playing time; Greenwood has featured 42 times for United this season - the fourth-most for the side - and amassed 2, 107 minutes. Sancho meanwhile has turned out 44 times for Borussia Dortmund for a total of 3, 266 minutes. Additionally, United lack a genuine aerial threat with just five headers scored in the Premier League this season. Dortmund have seven in the Bundesliga.
Understat have recorded Greenwood’s Premier League xG this season at currently 2.99 while his current goal tally rests one 9; Sancho’s xG in the Bundesliga is 10.75 and has realised a tally of 17.
But the crucial statistic to consider is not just his goals. Greenwood is playing out wide whereas the consideration has to be of somebody to supply the striker. Greenwood’s xA of 1.2 across all competitions pales in comparison to Sancho’s xA of 10.5. Which is partially a result of the style implemented by respective sides, but also indicates the relative comforts of each player.
Furthermore, Sancho’s 77 crosses this season and his 74 passes into the penalty area eclipses Greenwood’s numbers of 14 and 9 respectively. But Greenwood’s shot tally of 72 is 20 better than Sancho’s.
The success of Greenwood’s season is perhaps an indicator that Anthony Martial has more to prove as United’s definite starting striker, than a threat to the signing of Sancho. But should the Dortmund star sign, United have four players who, between them, provide two options for left wing, right wing, and striker.
The purchase of Sancho would also be a long-term investment for United, who will look to maintain the process of restoration. But it would also be a pleasing sight for the England set-up, with Marcus Rashford playing alongside his international squad-mates.
United will hope to pass on Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez to bolster their pockets in the pursuit of Sancho, but it’s one they have to give all they can to complete. With any go Pogba’s would-be suitors unlikely to be able to pry him from Old Trafford, this could be the summer for which sees Solskjaer truly shift the tide at Manchester United.
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