Why West Ham Must Resist The Temptation Of Jadon Sancho

West Ham have reportedly been offered the chance to sign former Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho on a free transfer. As Martin covered yesterday, the former England international is looking for a new club, with Getafe also interested.

Let’s get this out of the way early. It’s a no from me. I don’t know what anyone else thinks, but I wouldn’t want Sancho at West Ham, even on a free transfer. And it’s not because I doubt his talent. Quite the opposite.

Sancho is an incredibly gifted footballer who looked destined for the very top when he was at Borussia Dortmund. But I’ve got a little category in my mind for players who possess enormous natural ability without ever quite fulfilling their potential. Perhaps unfairly, Sancho falls into that category for me.

West Ham Would Be Taking A Gamble

One thing that sticks in my mind is Chelsea’s decision to pay Manchester United £5million to avoid signing him permanently. There were contractual circumstances involved, including difficulties agreeing personal terms, but it’s still remarkable.

Imagine ordering a burger and chips so bad that you pay the restaurant not to give it to you!

Manchester United have been something of a basket case themselves, so I wouldn’t judge Sancho purely on his experiences there. But his career since leaving Dortmund raises questions about whether he can consistently reproduce his best football.

I don’t know the bloke personally, and I’m certainly not claiming to know what happens behind the scenes. But looking at his career, I have doubts about his application and whether he possesses the drive needed to turn things around.

That matters because Nuno Espírito Santo appears particularly strict about the characters he wants in his dressing room.

Give Me Kanté Or Mukasa Every Time

Take Mohamadou Kanté, for example. Sancho probably possesses more natural skill, but give me Kanté every day of the week. His determination, perseverance and willingness to work are exactly what I want to see from a West Ham player.

The same applies to Divine Mukasa. Against Millwall, I thought he was the only player who really understood the importance of the derby during the first half. Against Southampton, in horrible conditions, he was our best player. He wanted the ball and tried to make something happen.

That’s the mentality I want.

Could Sancho play on West Ham’s left wing? Absolutely. He would probably improve that position immediately. But I’ve been saying for ages that we’re a slow team, and I don’t believe Sancho provides the pace we’re missing.

I’d rather we recruited a proper winger in January, or better still, spent the money on a striker.

Apparently, Getafe have offered Sancho around £10,000 a week. That sounds relatively inexpensive compared with his previous wages, but the money isn’t really my concern.

It’s whether he’d relish the challenge of Championship football, training at Rush Green and fighting for promotion.

Maybe I’m being harsh. Perhaps Sancho would arrive with a point to prove and tear this division apart. He’s certainly talented enough.

But talent alone isn’t sufficient, and I suspect West Ham would be signing a problem rather than solving one.

Even for free, it’s a no from me.