What was the point of signing Sancho and Varane? You asked, we answer

Man United have had a pretty impressive summer transfer window after signing two quality players in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.

Of course, both players are yet to start a Premier League game for the Red Devils, which is frustrating fans.

Tribuna.com user UtdLatest asked: ‘What was the point of signing Sancho and Varane?’. Let’s take a look at that.

Stability

Before the start of the season, it was rather obvious that the right-wing and centre-back position needed to be addressed by United. In Varane, they’ve signed a world-class defender who has won almost every big trophy in his career.

He’s also very reliable – having been a part of one of the best defensive partnerships over the last decade with Sergio Ramos. Varane’s best qualities include his ability to read situations perfectly, make timely tackles and move the ball forward swiftly.

The Frenchman is also not inconsistent, unlike the hot n’ cold Victor Lindelof. Varane’s aerial ability and physical prowess make him well suited for the Premier League. His experience also makes him an ideal partner for Harry Maguire – who needs an experienced defender to take the load off his shoulders.

When it comes to Sancho, he’s proven himself as one of the best right-wingers in Europe over the last few years. In the 2019/20 season, he scored and assisted 15+ goals for Borussia Dortmund. Only 4 players before that had managed it – including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sancho’s crossing ability and tendency to drift in from the right-wing is exactly what the Red Devils needed. His arrival also means Mason Greenwood can now play as a no.9, something which has already helped the United forward score 2 goals in as many Premier League games.

Experience

Varane’s vast amount of experience is a key reason behind his arrival at United. The French defender has been played at the very top of European football for the last decade. He’s seen it all and done it all with Real Madrid or France.

The most important thing is Varane’s tendency to win when it matters. He won 16 major titles with Madrid and excelled in those finals. With United losing the Europa League final last year in disappointing fashion, they needed someone like the centre-back to help get them over the line in such situations.

In terms of experience, don’t let Sancho’s age fool you. The 21-year-old made 137 senior appearances for Borussia Dortmund, winning the DFB Pokal title with them last season. He scored 50 goals and registered 64 assists in that, almost averaging a goal contribution every start.

Despite his age, Sancho possess impressive experience - especially in the Champions League – as he’s made 21 appearances in the European competition. The only way this United side can get back to winning major titles is a mix of quality & experience – both of which are brimming in the two summer arrivals.

Match Solskjaer’s philosophy

In his 3 years at Man United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given a definitive hint about how he wants his side to be. Something which matches the Red Devils’ own philosophy, Solskjaer wants the best English talents in his team along with experienced foreign players.

He managed to fulfill both those categories with the summer signings. Sancho is among the best players in England right now and his stats in recent years have almost been unmatched among English attacking players.

Varane fulfills the category of ‘experienced foreign player’ and is a leader in his own right – having captained both Real Madrid and France.

He and Maguire should motivate the younger teammates to give their all on the pitch, while Sancho joins an illustrious group containing Greenwood and Marcus Rashford when it comes to prime homegrown talent.

So why didn't they start vs Southampton?

Despite confirmation from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that they were ready to start against Southampton, neither Sancho nor Varane were in the United starting XI on Sunday.

More than anything else, this boils down to their lack of match fitness. Neither player featured in any of United's pre-season game. Varane only started training a few days after the Leeds United game.

After Victor Lindelof's impressive display against Leeds United, it probably would've been unfair to replace him with an unfit Varane.

Sancho has also not yet gelled with the squad as much as he'd like to because of little training. In comparison, the likes of Mason Greenwood & Anthony Martial had more pre-season training - which is why both started.

That being said, once fully fit and well gelled with the squad, the two summer signings can indeed bring a lot to the table for the Red Devils.