Man Utd's Sancho problem to be solved with stunning swap deal
Tom Weber
- 8 Dec 2023 04:46 CST
- 3 min read
Borussia Dortmund chiefs are set to hold a meeting to discuss the feasibility of a swap deal with Manchester United, according to a report.
As part of the transaction, Donyell Malen would head to Man Utd, while Jadon Sancho would return to the Black and Yellow. BILD's Christian Falk claims that the meeting is scheduled for today (Friday) and could decide the future of these two players.
On the face of it, a swap deal makes sense for everyone involved. Jadon Sancho, in Man Utd exile since the summer after publicly snapping back at Erik ten Hag over being dropped, would return to a familiar environment and get another shot at playing at a high level.
Malen, meanwhile, is said to be unhappy with his current situation at Dortmund, having more often than not failed to live up to the billing since the Bundesliga side snapped him up for a whopping €30 million from PSV. As FootballTransfers exclusively revealed, it would not be surprising to see Malen head to Old Trafford.
Malen at Utd
The Dutchman recently joined Erik ten Hag's agency, SEG, which handles most of the transfer business at Man Utd. Moreover, with the ongoing Sancho situation and Antony having been a flop signing, the Red Devils could use a right winger, though the Dutchman is versatile and can also feature centrally.
Indeed, it is quite likely that he could be used as striker cover to take the pressure off Rasmus Hojlund. A part of Malen's unhappiness at Dortmund is due to him constantly having to play on the right; he reportedly prefers playing as a striker or on the left.
There are some problems with this potential swap deal, however. Jadon Sancho's wage demands could be the biggest hurdle, though Malen could still depart for United even if Dortmund aren't able to facilitate the 23-year-old's return. The Black and Yellow would be prepared to sell Malen for €30m.
Furthermore, Malen's form could be an issue. As mentioned, he has rarely lived up to the hype in Germany and data experts SciSports also believe that he would not be a great fit for the Red Devils, giving him a Club Fit score of just 58 out of 100.
