After an underwhelming three seasons at Old Trafford, Manchester United are now negotiating a Jadon Sancho Juventus transfer fee, as they seek to cut their losses on the £72m it took to acquire his services.
Recent reports suggest that United have changed their stance on Sancho's future, with the Red Devils now willing to allow the England international to leave on loan initially.
Juventus, who are often involved in complex transfers such as loans with obligations to purchase in the future, are now set to ramp up their interest.
United set a £40m asking price for Sancho at the start of this transfer window.
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Why do Juventus want Sancho?
Manchester United spent well over a year chasing Sancho while he was at Borussia Dortmund, eventually signing him for a huge £72m fee.
It was seen as a real coup for United at the time, as the then-21-year-old was chased by a host of elite clubs. According to reports, Juventus were among the pack, and the Old Lady had a ‘long-term interest' in Sancho.
Things have not gone to plan for the winger since moving to the Premier League, but talent such as his does not simply disappear.
Sancho scored 38, and assisted 45 in 105 Bundesliga appearances, but offered more than just pure output at his best.
Thriving in the pockets, Sancho could run the final third on his own, blending trickery on the half-turn and neat combinations with plenty of ball progression through carries and passing.
Juventus are undergoing a rebuild under new boss Thiago Motta, and Sancho could be an ideal replacement for the exiled Federico Chiesa.
Jadon Sancho Juventus transfer fee: Is it a good deal?
Juventus had to endure a rare season without European football last campaign as a result of a UEFA ban, but are back in the Champions League this season.
As such, their budget is somewhat limited this season, but will return to its usual size next summer, thanks to the hefty revenues generated by Europe's premier competition.
A £40m fee is no bargain for a player with just 11 league goals in the last three seasons, but it may just suit all parties.
Juventus get to secure a long-term target who could still add serious quality to their attack, but defer payment to a more convenient time, and United secure a healthy fee for a player who has simply not performed for them.
Manchester United are not in immediate need of sales, though, with £55m in sales already made.
Where did it go wrong for Sancho at Manchester United?
At Dortmund, despite playing nominally as a wide-man, Sancho played in the channels, with width provided by attacking right-backs Thomas Meunier and Achraf Hakimi.
He also had the likes of Marco Reus and Julian Brandt nearby to combine with.
At United, however, Sancho has often been left isolated on the right wing, where his limited pace and physicality got exposed, and he has struggled to influence games in the same way.
On the other hand, Sancho's application and mentality have also been questioned, not least by his manager Erik ten Hag. The United boss even froze Sancho out for most of last season.
Whichever reason is more pertinent, it is abundantly clear that Sancho needs a fresh start, and Juventus could be just the place for one.
See also: The latest Manchester United transfer targets
