Would Real Madrid pursue Jadon Sancho in 2021 if he’s available?

If Manchester United can’t secure Jadon Sancho this summer, would Real Madrid try to make another push to sign him in 2021?

For Real Madrid, it’s all about the 2021 transfer market. That’s when Los Blancos are expected to go all-in for their two top targets – forward Kylian Mbappe and center midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. They are Real’s undoubted priorities, and they will both cost Los Blancos quite a bit of money.

It’s why Real aren’t focused on making signings in 2020. If they do sign players, they will be young, affordable depth additions like Benoit Badiashile and Marc Roca. But otherwise, Real are out to raise funds in 2020 in order to afford Mbappe and Camavinga next summer.

But those two star players won’t be the only big names on Real’s radar next summer. Real Madrid are always keeping a list of top players they could be interested in, and before the COVID-19-created economic crisis in football, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho was alongside Erling Haaland on their list of transfer targets.

Sancho is being pursued by Premier League powerhouse Manchester United, who desperately need a superstar creator and scorer on the wing like Sancho. But they are finding it difficult to sign him from Dortmund, who have Sancho under contract and are thus under no real pressure to part ways with their best player.

Real Madrid, Barcelona could pursue Jadon Sancho again

If Sancho doesn’t go to United, The Mirror reports that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona would join the Red Devils in pursuit of the Dortmund winger, who is contracted through the 2022-2023 Bundesliga season.

Dortmund are still expected to sell Sancho, but it might not happen until next summer if United cannot come up with a way to spend 120 million euros. Dortmund aren’t budging from their asking price – and understandably so. There isn’t a better player on the transfer market than Sancho right now, and they need Sancho in order to remain competitive in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich racking up wins and Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig looking dangerous.

But would Real Madrid really be interested in spending 120 million euros – or more, if Sancho’s value rises after a full season with Haaland by his side? They’ll already have to earmark close to 300 million euros in order to guarantee signing Mbappe, as well as adding the much-needed Camavinga. As great as Sancho is, Mbappe and Camavinga are both more important and arguably better in the grand scheme of things.

Sancho, however, is alluring. Last season, the 20-year-old had 17 goals and 16 assists in the Bundesliga, making him one of European football’s most productive players. He’s getting better and better, improving his decision-making and passing ability. And since he plays on the right, Real could really use him. Their only true fit on the right is Marco Asensio, with Rodrygo Goes playing there due to a lack of options and a comparative logjam on the left.

In other circumstances, Sancho may have been a great option for Real Madrid. But with money short and Mbappe and Camavinga being higher priorities, I would even consider Barcelona a more likely challenger to United than Real. Of course, that’s assuming the Red Devils don’t secure the transfer before then.