Man Utd News: Would United win the transfer window if they swap Sancho for Chelsea's Sterling?
There could yet be one more major Premier League deal before the transfer window closes this week. As teams scramble to round off their business until the turn of the year, sides are seeking to complete transfers that'll see them through until 2025. Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been active in the summer market, with the former expected to complete a deal to land Manuel Ugarte before long.
The latter, meanwhile, are exploring the possibility of bringing in Ivan Toney as they look to bring in another striker. However, Chelsea have a number of players on the books that they are prepared to sell before Friday's deadline. One of those is Raheem Sterling after he was left out of Chelsea's opening matchday squad for the 2-0 loss to Manchester City. Enzo Maresca has since confirmed that Sterling, along with compatriot Ben Chilwell, is free to leave.
United, meanwhile, are supposedly open to idea of allowing Jadon Sancho to depart, the former Borussia Dortmund man re-joining the German side on loan at the turn of the year and instrumental in reaching the Champions League final. While Dortmund were eager to retain Sancho's services beyond the culmination of his loan deal, the Bundesliga outfit were unable to match United's valuation of the 24-year-old.
Sancho is yet to register a Premier League minute for United following his late introduction in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, heightening speculation of an Old Trafford exit before Friday's deadline. Rumours are now abound that both Chelsea and United will be involved in a potential swap deal involving Sterling and Sancho that would see the pair swap Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, and vice versa.
But who would end up with the better deal were the transfer to come to fruition? While Sterling did struggle for regular game time at Chelsea last season, the former City man still managed eight goals and four assists across 1983 minutes of Premier League action. That is a huge improvement on Sancho's two goals and two assists, albeit from 954 minutes of action in the Bundesliga.
Broken down, Sancho scored 0.2 goals and provided 0.2 assists per 90 in Germany's top tier, with Sterling matching the latter assist haul but returning 0.4 goals per 90 in the Premier League. That is to be expected, however, with Sterling proving a more consistent goal threat having fired off 2.3 shots per 90 compared to Sancho's 0.8. By comparison, the former managed 1.4 key passes per 90, a dip on Sancho's 2.4 in the Bundesliga.
What did stand out, though, was that Sancho ranked higher for dribbles per 90 (3.4) compared to Sterling (2). Factor in the former's higher return of key passes per 90, Sancho suits a Chelsea side that has developed a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'creating chances through individual skill'. While he is better off the right, a position occupied by Noni Madueke and, if needs must, Cole Palmer or high-profile capture of Pedro Neto, the United man's ability to play off the left is one that can be utilised.
United, meanwhile, need consistency from the left flank to allow Alejandro Garnacho to flourish on the opposite side of the pitch, and Sterling would be an upgrade on Marcus Rashford in the role. With Bruno Fernandes routinely looking for willing runners to latch onto the chances he creates, Sterling could shine at Old Trafford.
The question now is whether there is enough time in the window for a swap deal to come to fruition but it's a move that would suit both parties in terms of getting an unwanted player off the books and signing a winger that would benefit their potential new employers.
