Why Jadon Sancho’s Rumored Liverpool Transfer Makes Zero Sense
Jadon Sancho will cost big money to clubs in the summer transfer window. But Liverpool don't spend big unless they have a crisis.
Jadon Sancho is set for a bigger summer move that could be well in excess of $130 million but it needn't be Liverpool. | Source: Shutterstock.com
- Jadon Sancho is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2020
- Liverpool are one of the clubs to be hunting for his signature in recent months.
- But the England international does not match the Reds’ famous and smart recruitment policy.
Liverpool have become known to be one of the best-run clubs in European football. That led them to win the UEFA Champions League by beating Tottenham Hotspur last season. And that is why they already have one hand on the Premier League title.
A key part of the club’s recruitment style is to not overspend on players unless there is a crisis-like need in that specific position. Their impressive usage of data and advanced metrics to know exactly what players they need helps them a lot in this regard.
The signature of Takumi Minamino was a sign of that. The Japanese arrived on a cut-price fee because of a low release clause and adds depth in multiple areas of the pitch. The fee they shelled out on him is good enough for what his role will be. The same is the case with Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri. He doesn’t play much but he wasn’t brought in to be a regular either, coming for a fee of £13 million.
And that is why the idea of the club potentially signing Jadon Sancho seems a rather weird one.
Jordan Sancho is hot property
Sancho has been in sublime form for Dortmund this season. Under Lucien Favre, the winger has contributed to 31 goals in just 28 appearances in all competitions for BVB. For a player who is still 19, it is a very scary number. For powerhouse clubs, he’s a sensational talent.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that Sancho feels ‘humiliated’ at Dortmund though. He also reported that apart from Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid also hold interest in signing the Englishman.
Sky Sports also reported in January that while Dortmund weren’t looking to sell him in the winter, it is likely he leaves the club in the summer. They added the names of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to the basket.
And it is very clear that Sancho could potentially cost £100 million in the summer. Dortmund are one of the major selling clubs in Europe, considering how they’ve sold the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the past.
Liverpool don’t need him as much as they think
Fans have been constantly making their opinions known about why the Reds should sign Sancho. But despite Liverpool’s financial capabilities, it won’t match the club’s transfer policy.
The last time the Anfield side spent big was on the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and former Roma goalkeeper Alisson. But those moves came at a time when the club was in desperate need of players in that position. They needed a top-quality holding midfielder and after Loris Karius’ errors against Real Madrid in 2018, they needed a top-class goalkeeper.
Those signings had filled the holes in the side. Since then, they haven’t spent big on players. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are still 27 each. They are at the peak of their powers and Jurgen Klopp’s system is bringing the best out of them.
Replacing them at this point doesn’t make sense. Liverpool can’t spend big on Sancho to get him to play as a backup. For a club like them, it wouldn’t be the best transfer policy.