Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘we need to strengthen the squad’
The news that Manchester United are considering cooling their interest in Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho is likely to alter the club's direction of travel in this transfer window. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was desperate to sign the England international but will now need Ed Woodward to source one of his alternative targets.
There are few attacking players on the planets with the goal-involvement statistics to rival what Sancho has put up over the last two years.
But with such a quick turnaround time between seasons the Red Devils cannot afford to be dallying on one transfer.
The negotiations with Dortmund, who are demanding around £108million (€120m) for the winger, are going nowhere so it is no surprise that fresh reports are suggesting talks will be shelved.
The likes of Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman have been identified as alternatives but the former has endured an injury-plagued campaign while the latter would surely want to fight on at Bayern Munich, despite Leroy Sane's arrival.
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The Daily Star reported earlier this month that Spurs are keen to sign Brooks following Bournemouth's relegation to the Championship.
Mourinho is desperate to revamp the squad he inherited from Mauricio Pochettino and the chance to land a highly-rated attacker with plenty of room for improvement would appeal.
Whether Tottenham have the budget to swoop remains to be seen due to the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis on the club, which could see them struggling to compete with United flush with Champions League cash.
Bournemouth have admitted every player in their squad is available for the right price.
"We as a football club have got a value of what we believe for our players," Eddie Howe's replacement Jason Tindall said.
"And if that value is met then players have got the opportunity to then discuss with whoever they need to discuss with and then make the decision they feel is right for them.
"But first and foremost, it needs to be right for the football club and once it's right for the football club then, as you've seen in the past, I don't think it's a club that will stand in anybody's way providing that the club's happy with and it meets the valuation of the player."
Man Utd news: David Brooks is a £40m target for both clubs (Image: GETTY)
Bournemouth have already shown their willingness to sanction sales at a high price by flogging Nathan Ake and Aaron Ramsdale for around £59m.
But the Cherries believe they can tempt the likes of Brooks, Callum Wilson and Josh King into staying with the temptation of a promotion push.
Tindall added: "Until any offers come in for any players then they remain in Bournemouth regardless anyway.
"The squad are happy here. They know they're at a fantastic club and it's a club that's going places and want to achieve something this year.
"I think when you've got that purpose as a player where you're going into a season where you're looking to be successful and achieve something, I think it's a great thing to have and people want to be a part of that."
The lure of Old Trafford could prove too great for Brooks, however, if Woodward firms up United's interest amid difficulties over Sancho.
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