EVERYTHING happens very quickly for Jadon Sancho. The first player born this millennium to play for England is one of the most productive attacking players in the Bundesliga, a regular senior international and already a star for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
And now, still more than three months shy of his 20th birthday, he appears to be on the verge of becoming the most expensive English player ever, with growing tensions at Signal Iduna Park reportedly pushing the youngster towards a £100m-plus exit when the mid-season transfer window opens.
Several of Europe’s biggest clubs – including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United – are said to be monitoring Sancho’s situation, but it seems Liverpool are emerging as favourites for the teenager’s signature. And while the Premier League-leading Reds might not be short of attacking quality at present, going big for Sancho makes sense for Jurgen Klopp’s side on a number of levels.
Liverpool are favourites to sign Jadon Sancho and the winger wants to leave Dortmund in January, reports @JanAageFjortoft pic.twitter.com/imM3yp5mQl
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 2, 2019
There is little room for improvement in Liverpool’s front three. Last season, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, the primary wide options at Anfield, shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot and were just this week voted fourth and fifth respectively in the running for the Ballon d’Or. And centrally, Roberto Firmino isn’t the most prolific striker but his unselfish play and ability to seamlessly link attack and midfield makes him indispensable.
The arrival of Sancho would certainly cause Klopp a selection dilemma when deciding which of his gifted attackers should start the biggest games. But, with the Reds on course for a first league title in 30 years and battling to retain their Champions League crown, the addition of a fourth elite-level forward would allow for a healthy degree of rotation, ensuring all remain fresh into the deep end of the campaign.
There are enough games still to play to satisfy four attackers rotating across the three forward positions in Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3. And Sancho’s effectiveness on either flank would mean the German manager could mix and match his wide options while also deploying them all at once in a 4-2-3-1 when possible.
With 21 goals in 74 games to date for Dortmund, Sancho’s scoring record, while impressive enough for a player of his age in his position, falls short of Mane and Salah’s prowess in front of goal. This would be one area in which Liverpool would look to see improvement from Sancho if they are to fork out a club-record fee for the wide man, but it is his unselfish creativity that would instantly make him a huge asset.
Stylistically, Sancho is a mesmerising dribbler who revels in taking on and beating his marker with carefully honed tricks and body feints. He differs from Mane and Salah in that he dribbles much more than the Liverpool pair, but he prides himself in his end product, aiming to finish every forward burst by conjuring a chance for a colleague or himself.
A staggering 32 assists since his BVB debut make Sancho one of Europe’s most reliable creators, and the rest of the Reds’ frontline would reap the rewards of the England international’s relentless creativity. He already has nine assists to his name this term. When added to his seven goals, the Bundesliga standout has been directly involved in a goal every 92 minutes.
My current Sancho PL suitor rankings (where does he make most sense?):
1) City – could slot straight in at RW
2) Chelsea – mates with Tammy/CHO but what about Pulisic?
3) United – need a superstar but have good wingers
4) Liverpool – already have world’s best front three— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) November 28, 2019
Dortmund are on their fourth manager since Klopp left the club at the end of the 2014-15 season, and their recent inconsistency means they could soon be on the hunt for a fifth, with Lucien Favre’s position coming into question. But BVB have retained the high-octane intensity that Klopp made their calling card, meaning Sancho would be used to some of the Liverpool manager’s tactical demands.
Coaches who have worked closely with Sancho at Dortmund and Manchester City insist the player does not lack for workrate defensively, always willing to put in a shift to win back possession. But he still has much to learn about the intricacies of a sophisticated, co-ordinated pressing strategy. That wouldn’t worry Klopp. The Liverpool boss would much prefer to work with a player committed to learning his counter-pressing system than one adept at pressing yet not consistent in their effort and application at the breakdown of play.
For all the on-field merits to Liverpool’s reported pursuit of Sancho, there is a great deal of business sense to the move too. Adding an expensive wide player who’d command starting minutes might not seem like an obvious need for Liverpool at present, with the current front three all of prime age – Mane and Salah are 27; Firmino is 28. But having three key players peak together means they will decline together too. Sancho would allow the Reds to wean off their dependency on the current trio before their efficacy wanes.
Sancho’s arrival could also open the door to a potential departure for one of the trio. As unpalatable as it is for Liverpool fans to consider, having a ready-made alternative to either Mane or Salah while they are still young enough to command peak value is wise.
Sancho would likely cost significantly more than the club-record £75m Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk almost two years ago, and his immediate impact would not be as transformative as the Dutch defender’s. But Sancho’s upside is almost limitless. He would arrive as a ready-made first-team option to assist their push for silverware on multiple fronts, and his age and boundless potential means he promises serious medium- and long-term gains as well.
If Sancho decides to leave Dortmund next month he will have a wealth of options for his next destination. None will make as much sense for player and club as Liverpool.
