---
title: "Manchester United: Red Devils ready to challenge Chelsea in race for Kai Havertz if Jadon Sancho bid fails"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-chelsea-transfer-race-kai-havertz-latest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Ward"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2020-08-13T12:40:54Z"
modified: "2020-08-13T12:40:54Z"
---

# Manchester United: Red Devils ready to challenge Chelsea in race for Kai Havertz if Jadon Sancho bid fails

**Manchester United are in danger of missing out on Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho this summer.**

Man United missed Dortmund’s deadline to sort out a deal by [August 10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12046603/jadon-sancho-michael-zorc-says-man-utd-target-in-borussia-dortmunds-plans-for-new-season) and the [11-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jadon-sancho/profil/spieler/401173) England international has rejoined his Bundesliga teammates for their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

The Red Devils haven’t give up hope of signing Sancho just yet, but Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has dealt Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a bitter blow.

He [recently](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-ed-woodward-transfer-poker-game-latest-old-trafford/) told reporters “we plan on having Jadon Sancho in our team this season, the decision is final. I think that answers all our questions.”

Now, [The Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-sancho-transfer-alternatives-18748768?_ga=2.35077665.1676667470.1597222747-1702426263.1595507668) claims United could turn their attention to Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz instead.

Chelsea have emerged as top contenders to sign the [7-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kai-havertz/profil/spieler/309400) German international but United could still hijack the Blues’ bid for him in the summer.

Frank Lampard’s side are [reportedly](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8601359/Chelseas-90m-target-Kai-Havertz-influential-against-Rangers-finishing-let-down.html) leading the race to sign the [£90m-rated](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-sancho-transfer-news-18751858) attacking midfielder, although it looks like the Red Devils are ready to challenge their Premier League rivals.

[\[freshpress-poll id=”313903″\]](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/[freshpress-poll%20id=%22313903%22])

However, [Solskjaer](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-ed-woodward-transfer-poker-game-latest-old-trafford/) has insisted that Sancho is his top target, having chased the right winger for some time already.

While Havertz would be a cheaper alternative to the 20-year-old, he will not come cheaply either.

As far as Chelsea are concerned, [Leverkusen’s top scorer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bayer-leverkusen/top-scorers) remains their primary focus before the start of the 2020/21 [Premier League](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-transfer-news-kai-havertz-bayer-leverkusen-europa-league-exit-a4521326.html) season.

Ed Woodward is known for many things but [acting quickly](https://theathletic.co.uk/1282731/2019/10/11/1282731/) is not one of them. The executive vice-chairman missed out on signing Cesc Fabregas and ended up paying over the odds for United flop [Marouane Fellaini](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/manchester-united/total-duds-david-moyes-made-a-big-mistake-signing-marouane-fellaini-at-manchester-united/) instead.

Dortmund are notorious for driving a hard bargain and are unwilling to sell Sancho for anything less than [£108m](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-ed-woodward-transfer-poker-game-latest-old-trafford/) in the summer. They famously sold Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona for £135m after rejecting a bid from Barca at the beginning of August [2017](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41075084).

Both clubs are locked in [negotiations](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-ed-woodward-transfer-poker-game-latest-old-trafford/) but appear to be at loggerheads, while fans will have to wait and see how this [poker game](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-rumours/jadon-sancho-manchester-united-ed-woodward-transfer-poker-game-latest-old-trafford/) will play out, as the game is almost certainly afoot. The bottom line is if United want to sign Sancho then Woodward will have to break the bank.

***United fans, will Woodward sign Sancho this summer? Let us know down below!***