If Manchester United signs Jadon Sancho, they will have a frontline worth about £600 million, and one capable of challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title in 2021-22.
If reports are to be believed, Jadon Sancho is on his way to Manchester United. United's first objective this summer is to sign the Borussia Dortmund winger, after failing to do so last year.
Dortmund stated at the time that they required specified money by a certain date. United refused to meet their £108 million asking prices, saying it was too high in a coronavirus-affected market and that demand would fall in the coming months. Sancho stayed because they didn't.
The Bundesliga heavyweights are reported to have cut their asking price to roughly £80 million and are willing to negotiate because their main focus is on retaining striker Erling Haaland at the club for another year as sharks circle for the Norwegian.
The Times claims that the £80 million sum, plus some add-ons, will achieve an agreement and that a deal is on the verge of being brokered.
Sancho has already agreed on personal terms for a transfer to Old Trafford, and once a fee has been agreed, United should have no trouble getting the deal done as long as he passes his physical.
And if United can bring in the generational 21-year-old, who has 40 goals and 36 assists in 82 Dortmund games despite only turning 21 in March, their attack may be as good as anyone in the league.
Of course, the Red Devils will prefer a younger striker than Edinson Cavani in the future, with Sancho's teammate Haaland being the best long-term prospect over Tottenham's Harry Kane.
Cavani, 34, showed in his 17-goal debut season in Manchester that he can still play at the highest level. His 23 goals were scored over the course of 2,180 minutes, or around 24 full matches, or one every 94.7 minutes.
The more games the Uruguayan can start next season, the more time his teammates - including Sancho, assuming he signs - will have to exploit his superb movement and lethal finishing. His goal total of 17 will almost definitely increase next season.
Cavani is anticipated to start in place of a fit-again Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman looking to reclaim his role as the team's go-to center-forward from 2019-20, when he scored 23 goals and helped 12 times.
United will boast one of Europe's most fearsome front fours with Cavani in the centre, Sancho on the right, Marcus Rashford on the left - and a Marcus Rashford hopefully free of injury and agony after undergoing surgery following Euro-20202 - and Bruno Fernandes in the centre.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may also rotate for Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood, who will be the major attacking reinforcements when Solskjaer changes up his starting eleven but also mid-match off the bench, without sacrifici ng quality.
Greenwood (£153 million), Rashford (£137 million), Fernandes (£133 million), Sancho (£104 million), and Martial (£69 million) make form a £596 million attack, according to the CIES Football Observatory. That doesn't account for Cavani's value.
Cavani isn't on the top-100 list due to his age and contract situation (he'll be a free agency in 2022), but United recognizes his value.
Sancho, if he can be recruited as the new first-choice right-sided forward, will help form a frontline that will definitely only be matched by champions Manchester City. They, too, are currently without a quality striker following Sergio Aguero's departure.
If United can improve their investment in other areas, such as central defense, where captain Harry Maguire requires a more intimidating partner than Victor Lindelof, they may be able to dream of a title challenge.
Sancho at right-wing, Kieran Trippier at right-back, Raphael Varane at centre-back, Declan Rice in central midfield, and even Haaland to lead the line are all targets for Solskjaer.
However, bringing in Sancho, Trippier, and Varane - or a different centre-back like Pau Torres - would be a fantastic summer, and the Norwegian would have an arsenal of forwards ready to assist shoot down the inferior opponents they faced in 2020-21.
It will not be easy to beat City, but with a young attack - aside from Cavani - full of players who have put in some incredible performances in previous seasons, there is reason to believe that a serious title push is feasible. After finishing 19 points behind City in 2017-18 and then 12 points behind Pep Guardiola and co. last season, there hasn't been a genuine match since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
Sancho, on the other hand, would be one of the most exciting United signings in the Premier League era, providing Solskjaer with a plethora of top-tier attackers from whom to choose each game.
If Sancho does arrive at Old Trafford, however, United cannot afford to consider that their work is done. The most significant investment must be made at center-back. If you add that in, that 21st league title becomes a lot more attainable.
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