Manchester United have agreed a £72.9million deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign Jadon Sancho.
United will finally land their top target Sancho after the two clubs agreed a compromise fee for the 21-year-old winger.
After long-running discussions which have taken place over the last two summers, Dortmund accepted United’s third offer of this window which will see them pay the £72.9m – understood to be spread over four years, with no further add-ons.
Sancho is set to complete his move to Old Trafford, signing a five-year deal that runs until 2026 and undergo a medical, following England’s participation in the Euros.
United have been long-term admirers of Sancho, and were among a host of clubs interested in trying to sign him in 2017 before he left Manchester City for Dortmund.
They revived their interest last summer but refused to meet Dortmund’s £108m price tag.
Dortmund lowered their demands this time around, mindful that Sancho would have entered the final two years of his contract next season, initially hoping for as much as £86m.
But United have managed to negotiate Dortmund down even further. They will land their man for around £35m less than the price they were quoted 12 months ago.
United tabled a first offer £67m plus around £8m of add-ons and then a second restructured proposal which included a slightly higher guaranteed fee.
Dortmund, though, were determined to push for a larger guaranteed sum, shorter payment structure and, initially, what they considered more realistic add-ons.
They have eventually settled on a lower overall total but a package that means they are certain to receive all of the money proposed, making the final deal and structure one both clubs will be happy with.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be too after securing his priority transfer target.
Sancho became that as he has emerged as one of European football’s leading attacking talents in his time at Dortmund who he joined for around £10m.
He arrived from Manchester City rated as one of the most exciting youngsters in the continent having been named the best player of his age when he won the golden player award at the under-17 Euros in 2017, helping England finish runners-up.
He was also part of the Under-17s World Cup winning squad later that year.
Sancho has gone on to underline that potential in his four years at Dortmund, scoring 50 goals and racking up 64 assists in 137 games, scoring twice to inspire term to a German Cup victory last season.
City will be due around £10m of the fee as a result of a 15 per cent sell-on clause they had inserted in the deal that saw Sancho move from the Eithad Stadium club to Germany.
City also have an option to match United’s deal with Dortmund but that is considered immaterial without them having an agreement with the player.
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