Manchester United have reportedly made an enquiry about the availability of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior as an alternative for Jadon Sancho.
According to Spanish publication Defensa Central, Real Madrid sensation Vinicius Junior has registered on the radars of Premier League giants Manchester United, as they eye an alternative for primary transfer target Jadon Sancho.
It is no secret that Manchester United have been pursuing the signing of Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for quite a while now. However, their pursuit seems to have fallen through, with the German giants insisting that the England international will not be sold after they began their pre-season training camp ahead of the 2020/21 season.
While reports insist that Manchester United remain relaxed over the situation, there have also been claims that the Red Devils are already looking at alternatives for the 20-year-old Dortmund star. Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman has been mentioned as a potential backup for Sancho and now Vinicius, too, has emerged as a fall-back option.
The 20-year-old Brazilian wonderkid joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in the summer of 2018. He has made a solid impression so far in his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, bagging eight goals and sixteen assists in 69 matches.
Vinicius ended the 2019/20 camapaign with a return of five goals and four assists in 38 matches in all competitions, helping Madrid to the La Liga triumph.
This seems to have put him on Manchester United’s radar, with the club already making an enquiry over his availability in the ongoing transfer window. The 20-time English champions are prepared to make a significant contract offer to convince him to make the jump to Old Trafford.
While the 20-year-old has largely been used on the left flank at Real Madrid, he is equally capable of playing on the right wing as well as in a more central role. His age and potential, along with the versatility, would make him a capable alternative for Sancho.
However, as per the report, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane sees the forward as a key player for the future. In addition, Vinicius himself has no intentions of leaving the club, and has reportedly rejected advances from French champions PSG in the past already.
Vinicius is contracted to Real Madrid till the summer of 2025, and it has been reported his deal includes a humongous release clause of €700 million. With both the player and the club uninterested in the transfer, Manchester United would be better off looking elsewhere to bolster their attacking department.
