Barcelona could do Manchester United a massive favour in the January transfer window, by making moves for outcasts Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who say both players could be options for the Catalans if their current situations continue.
The newspaper explains that the belief at the Nou Camp is that the market will ‘once again offer players’ to them once January rolls around, as the end of the summer window did with Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix.
Those two players joined the club because they were in difficult situations at their respective clubs and Barcelona managed to get them on loan because of that.
Because of their economic situation that is something they need to look at again come January, with the club accepting a need to ‘sharped its ingenuity’ and think outside the box.
Thus, they will again ‘look askance’ at the market and players clubs will be willing to almost give away despite them once being high profile signing. And there are two such players at Manchester United.
The first is Jadon Sancho, who is going through the worst moment of his career to date despite costing United €100m in 2021.
He’s been banned from all first team activities after a falling out with Erik ten Hag and it is ‘evident’ that a solution needs to be found as the player continues to be devalued while out of action.
Jose Mourinho and Roma are already showing an interest and Barcelona could do likewise if the deal is there to be done.
The same can be said for Anthony Martial, who is in the final year of his Manchester United contract and has a ‘clearly secondary role’ under Ten Hag at this moment in time.
He was once a ‘bomb signing’ when he cost €80m in 2015 but now barely features, even with United struggling on the wings thanks to the Sancho situation and Antony’s absence leaving them short.
Thus, he is an option for Barcelona, perhaps on the cheap, with Manchester United surely keen to ensure they get something for him rather than lose him on a free. They do have an option to extend his deal, though, so the need is not a pressing one in January.
Mundo, though, believe the opportunity could be there for Xavi and his team as they look at potential bargains to keep reinforcing their squad.
