MANCHESTER UNITED risk “having their trousers pulled down” by Borussia Dortmund over their pursuit of Jadon Sancho, according to Graeme Souness.
The Red Devils have made the England whizkid their number one transfer target this summer as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to splash the cash.
SunSport revealed how the club believe they have already landed Sancho after months of secret talks with the player and his agent.
It is understood the length of Sancho’s contract, his salary, bonuses and a huge buyout clause have been sorted out over months of secret talks.
United must now finalise a price with Dortmund — which is set to become a record fee for a British club in the region of £120million.
But Liverpool legend Souness believes United’s tactics are likely to backfire with the Bundesliga side in the driving seat when it comes to agreeing a price tag.
Reported by the Mirror, he said: “I don’t see it, unless the whole world has changed.
“I don’t think you get into personal terms, length of contract, buy-outs and clauses, until the two clubs have decided on a fee.
“I mean the first thing is that the two clubs come to an agreement, the rest comes second, so I’m not sure that can be correct.
“If you’re United and you’re doing that, without a deal done with Dortmund, you’ll have your trousers taken down when you get round a table with Dortmund.
“Because they know the strength of your offer, they know you’re very much up for it, so you’re taking away any negotiating power if you go down that road.
“You could do it behind everyone’s back, but the facts are in the public domain and the fact that ‘someone from Dortmund’ is saying that the player spoke to someone from United. I don’t see that being a goer, personally.
“The transfer may happen, but I don’t see it happening in that chronological way. I think there has to be two clubs to two clubs and then you get down to the nitty gritty.”
London-born Sancho left City, aged 17, after becoming fed up at his lack of action under boss Pep Guardiola.
But he has been considering a return to England ever since United made first contact last summer.
In September, Dortmund chief Michael Zorc revealed: “A meeting did take place. United invited the agent.”
