MANCHESTER UNITED found themselves desperately needing some individual inspiration against Crystal Palace – the kind Jadon Sancho can provide.
They were stunned at Old Trafford in their Premier League opener, losing 3-1 against Crystal Palace.
Daniel James was subbed off at half-time against Crystal Palace
Jadon Sancho is the individual talent United are craving
The woefully lacklustre performance only highlights the mood at the club – they need an exciting prospect to inspire a turnaround.
Daniel James, 22, struggled against Palace, managing just one dribble before being replaced at half-time by Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood, 18, might have started had it not been for his Covid-19 breach of protocol during England duty this month.
James cannot be singled out individually for his showing – Anthony Martial, 24, and Marcus Rashford, 22, also underperformed.
But as the Welshman occupied the right wing United fans so desperately want Sancho, 20, to fill, evidently some frustration will be aimed his way.
The hosts seemed completely out of ideas as they failed to break down Palace’s stubborn 4-4-2 set-up.
New signing Donny van de Beek, 23, did pull one back to make it 2-1 only for Wilfred Zaha, 27, to net again against his former club.
Zaha’s second, an excellent solo goal finishing past David de Gea just inside the box, is exactly the kind of thing United are missing.
United were stunned at Old Trafford in their Premier League opener, losing 3-1 against Crystal Palace
Ole Gunnar Solskjaker’s side are in need of a star able to get on the ball and make things happen.
Sancho is exactly the man to do that.
The England forward is a confident dribbler, hungry to take players on to open up shooting or crossing opportunities.
With 20 goals and the same amount of assists for Borussia Dortmund last season, it is the kind of form that could have inspired an individual comeback at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
And if United are really adamant they won’t budge on Dortmund’s £109million price tag, their scouting department needs to look at alternatives.
As Liverpool and Manchester City have shown in recent years, champions possess game-changing options from both the start and the bench.
United lack that going forward despite having greater alternatives at the back and in midfield.
But it looks as though signing another goalscoring option has to be Solskjaer’s solution to overturning their fortunes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘tells Jadon Sancho Man Utd deal is close’ with pair ‘in regular contact’ as negotiations continue
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
