Man Utd eyeing new Jadon Sancho transfer alternative who Cristiano Ronaldo rates highly

As things stand, Manchester United are torn. They’re still hopeful they can bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford but, with Borussia Dortmund refusing to budge on their £108million asking price, are prepared to look elsewhere. And fresh reports have linked them with Joao Felix as a result, a player who Cristiano Ronaldo rates highly.

Manchester United would love to sign Sancho but, at the current moment in time, are pondering whether to abandon their transfer pursuit.

The Red Devils have admired the England international ever since his time at Manchester City and, in 2017, narrowly missed out on the forward to Borussia Dortmund.

United enquired about Sancho 12 months ago but, having failed to qualify for the Champions League, knew they stood no chance of bringing the player to Old Trafford.

This time around, however, United have Champions League football to use as bait.

The Red Devils booked their place in Europe’s top club competition by finishing third in the Premier League, beating Leicester 2-0 on the final day of the season.

However, despite that, United have found signing Sancho a difficult task.

Dortmund are adamant their prized asset won’t be going anywhere unless their huge £108m asking price is paid in full. Big money for a big star.

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The Portugal international was in-demand a year ago after shining for Benfica, scoring 20 goals from 43 matches and becoming Europe’s hottest prospect in the process.

United were linked, but never made a serious play at signing the striker. And, in the end, it was Atletico Madrid who won the race for his signature – paying a massive £113m to secure his signature.

Felix’s time at the Wanda Metropolitano hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, though, with the 20-year-old scoring just six La Liga goals from 27 matches.

He has shown mere glimpses of his full potential so far but he’s still rated highly around the world and there’s a belief that Felix can now shine, having transitioned into Diego Simeone’s team.

His compatriot, former United star Ronaldo, has lavished praise on him in the past.

He’s previously said: “Can he repeat my successes in Spain? I believe that a lot, because he is an excellent player with a lot of potential who can evolve.

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“It is difficult to make calculations in current football. You bet a lot on the potential and the football industry is different.

“Leaving aside the case of Joao Felix, any player is worth €100m, even without having proven anything.”

Reports have even suggested that Ronaldo sees Felix as his heir, the superstar in the making who can spearhead an exciting new era for Portuguese football.

And whether United follow up their interest in the Atletico star is something only time will tell.

The La Liga giants may accept a reduced bid for the striker, with funds and money in short supply over in the Spanish capital following the coronavirus crisis.

And, with Sancho proving elusive so far, he could be the way to go. 

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source: express.co.uk