Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson has expressed his doubts over a proposed move for Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are reported to be at the head of the queue for the highly-rated 20-year-old, who has registered 14 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga during the 2019-20 campaign.
However, Merson believes that financial implications amid the coronavirus pandemic will see big-money transfers put on hold for some time.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Merson said: "All the talk about Jadon Sancho commanding a £100m-plus transfer fee has been blown out of the water if you ask me. Borussia Dortmund are said to be demanding in excess of that figure for one of Europe's hottest young talents, but they can forget it.
"There's no way that's going to be happening. It's gone – over and out. Top clubs can't be putting staff on furlough and then start forking out that kind of money the minute the transfer window opens.
"It's not just the fee, but with players in that price bracket comes a pay packet of around £300,000 a week and that's just not going to be happening.
"The landscape has changed not just for everyone on the planet but for football as well. Really big-money moves may be off the table for quite some time.
"With the financial situation as it is, how would it look for clubs struggling to pay their staff and then transfer deadline day arrives and it flashes up on the screen that £900m or whatever has been splashed out on players? There would be uproar."
Dortmund are believed to be holding out for a £120m fee for Sancho, who will see his current deal at the Westfalenstadion expire in 2022.
Ben Knapton
