Daniel James is yet to convince Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he can provide a long-term answer on the wing as the club line up a big move for Jadon Sancho, according to a report in the print edition of The Sunday Mirror (page 74). 

What is the latest transfer news involving Sancho? 

The report suggests that, while United are still keen on a big move for Erling Haaland, it is his Borussia Dortmund teammate in Sancho who is the club's transfer priority this summer. 

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Indeed, a £100m asking price is thought to have put the Old Trafford giants off before but there is now a hope Sancho could be available for around £80m this summer. 

How many assists has Sancho got this season? 

While it may have been a more difficult campaign for the 21-year-old, he has still managed to record 18 assists in 35 games across all competitions. 

No one has managed as many at United this season in what has been a relatively slow year for Sancho, who also averages more key passes per game (2.7, via WhoScored) than any of their players outside of Bruno Fernandes, who has managed the same amount. 

How has Daniel James played this season? 

Sadly for James, the early good form he showed at United seems a long time ago now. 

Five goals and 1 assist in 24 games isn't exactly a prolific return for the player, who trials Sancho in most attacking metrics. In league competition, Sancho beats him for shots (2 to 1.1), key passes (0.5 to 2.7) and dribbles per game (0.8 to 2.9), so his statistics would suggest the England star would be a substantial upgrade on James. 

What has Solskjaer said about James? 

Speaking back in November 2019, the United boss labeled James as the best 'defensive winger' in the world. 

"He is probably the best defensive winger in the world with his honesty, commitment and the way he does his recovery runs and doing his back tackles," he said via The Mirror

"It is unbelievable, but that is also base for his attacking football because it gives him the space to run into, so I am not that surprised, though very pleased, of course."

As admirable a quality as that might be, United have scored fewer goals than Manchester City in the league this season in what has been a relative departure from their free-scoring best, so trying to introduce more firepower into the side might be a way of pushing their title challenge even further next time out.