Man Utd have to go out and sign Sancho, says Ferdinand

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 May 2021 19:01 BST
• 5 min read

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that the club simply have to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho even though Edinson Cavani has renewed his contract at Old Trafford.

Cavani recently put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at the club until the end of next season, but Ferdinand is of the opinion that his former club still needs attacking reinforcements.

READ MORE: OFFICIAL: Edinson Cavani to remain at Man Utd as contract extension confirmed

Man Utd were heavily linked with Sancho last summer, and it was thought that a deal would be completed before deadline day. That never came to fruition, however, but Ferdinand would love them to go back in for him.

Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube show, the six-time Premier League winner revealed his thoughts on the young English superstar.

“For the third season on the spin he’s got 30+ goal involvements,” he said.

“This is for a 21-year-old kid!

“I don’t care where he’s playing, he’s in the Bundesliga, it’s ridiculous for anyone to be saying he shouldn’t be in the England squad.

“The kid is the real deal and someone like Man United or whoever, one of the top teams, has to go out and get this boy because he brings the playground to the stadiums.”

Sancho’s 2020/21 Season:

After being touted for a move away for the entirety of last summer it seemed as though Sancho’s head was elsewhere during the first-half of this season.

By mid-November, Sancho had amassed just two assists and zero goals in the Bundesliga; a far-cry from his electric form from the previous year.

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A post shared by Jadon Sancho (@sanchooo10)

The absence of Achraf Hakimi down the right flank seemed to affect him, but it was mostly put down to his wish for a move away. However, he’s turned a corner since then, and has once again reached 30 goal contributions in all competitions for the season.

He currently has 14 goals and 17 assists in all competitions this campaign, in comparison to 20 goals and 19 assists last time around, which would rank third in the Man Utd squad, behind Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

However, while last year he scored 17 and assisted 16 in the Bundesliga, he’s scored eight and assisted nine this year in the league. It’s still a decent tally, especially for someone who started the year so poorly, but it’s still a drop-off.

But, his form in 2021 has been excellent, and with a spot on the right flank seemingly available in Man Utd’s current side, Sancho seems the perfect candidate.