MANCHESTER UNITED must qualify for the Champions League in order to stand any chance of beating Liverpool to the signing of Jadon Sancho.
The 19-year-old England forward – also a target for Chelsea – looks certain to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer with the German giants demanding 120million.
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According to Sky Sports, Sancho is wanted by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – once the former manager of Dortmund.
But it is claimed United are also confident they can convince the ex-City outcast to make the switch to Old Trafford.
However, securing Champions League football next season is understood to be a deal-breaker for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
This is what prevented goal machine Erling Haaland from moving to Manchester in the winter window.
The Athletic suggest the striker had his heart set on Old Trafford and told United chief executive Ed Woodward and Solskjaer – who managed Haaland at Molde – he would sign for the club.
But it is understood the lack of Champions League football this season, and potentially next term too, convinced Haaland to join Dortmund instead.
United are seventh in the league, three points off fourth placed Chelsea, who they beat 2-0 on Monday.
But with Manchester rivals City banned from Europe for the next two campaigns, Solskjaers side have been handed a revived chance of qualifying for Europes elite competition.
However, the United manager is adamant their business in the market will not be affected by how they finish the season.
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Solskjaersaid: The Champions League gives the club more resources, more money, thats one thing.
Its a prestigious tournament to be in, of course. If we play well the rest of the season, and players we want are impressed, it might be easier to convince them that were here.
But I dont think if next season is with or without the Champions League thats the be-all and end-all for a player to sign for us.
