It has taken six months for Jadon Sancho to find his feet at Manchester United after regularly dazzling at Borussia Dortmund.
United's £72.9m investment in Sancho in the summer represented quite the bargain considering what the player had achieved in Germany. Sancho scored 50 goals and recorded 64 assists across his 137 games for Dortmund, but it was the manner of his performances that was most exciting. Sancho had firmly established himself as one of Europe's finest young talents.
Although Sancho had played across multiple positions for Dortmund, he was brought to Old Trafford to play on the right-wing. That position had been problematic for United for some time and signing Sancho seemed the obvious long-term answer.
Sancho failed to hit the ground running upon his arrival but that was to be expected. The demands of the Premier League and the Bundesliga are vastly different and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to take responsibility for seemingly having no plan to get the best out of Sancho. Solskjaer had pushed so hard to sign Sancho and that was bizarre. It was indicative of his managerial flaws.
It is also telling that Sancho has improved each week after Ralf Rangnick's interim appointment. There is a confidence about Sancho that was previously absent and United supporters are finally beginning to see the player that stunned the German media.
Sancho has been more inclined to beat his man in recent weeks and his creative qualities have shone through. He should be named United's Player of the Month for February. It's just ironic that his best performances have come down the left channel.
Sancho has thrived on the left-wing and he's now made that position his own. That was almost unthinkable after the first weeks of the season, but consistent minutes on the left have enabled United to coax Sancho to something like his best. Marcus Rashford has been moved to the right - he's not seen to best effect in that position - and Anthony Elanga has also played there instead.
United have spent £120m on right-wingers across the last two seasons [Sancho, Amad and Facundo Pellistri ] and yet the two players that are set to play in that role for the remainder of the season are academy products. That could only happen at United.
Old Trafford chiefs actually tried to sign a different right-winger in the summer of 2020, Watford's Ismaila Sarr, after being frustrated with Dortmund refusing to sanction a deal for Sancho, but their advances were rejected, according to Sarr's agent.
Watford had just been relegated to the Championship and the transfer might have raised a few eyebrows, however, Sarr had scored five goals and created six assists in a struggling side during his first season and his potential was obvious for United's scouts.
His style and directness on the ball were qualities United needed and, with Sancho moving to the left side, Sarr's assets are something that United still need two years later. They should consider reigniting their interest in the player this summer.
Sarr is right-footed and a throwback to the pacy wingers of yesteryear. Sarr has also averaged more shots, more successful dribbles and more successful attacking actions per 90 in the Premier League than Sancho this term, which highlights his ability. He scored against United at Vicarage Road in November and he's managed five goals in total across 15 games this season.
With Watford embroiled in yet another relegation battle, Sarr could be available for a bargain price in the summer. The player has just turned 25 years old and another season in the Championship would hardly appeal. The transfer ticks all boxes.
Liverpool have enjoyed great success on the back of recruiting shrewdly from lowly Premier League teams and the move would be low risk with the potential of high reward. Those at United are well aware of Sarr and he could solve their problem position.
United play Watford on Saturday and the match could be a transfer audition for Sarr.
The winger could yet end up playing permanently at Old Trafford.
