Rabbi Matondo on Man Utd transfer after emerging as Jadon Sancho alternative

Manchester United's rebuild has seen them make Jadon Sancho their No.1 transfer target as they look to add something extra to their attack.

But with a very particular profile in mind, United chiefs have also been monitoring another Bundesliga youngster, Rabbi Matondo.

The 19 year-old moved to Germany last summer, joining Schalke from Manchester City, taking a similar pathway to Sancho in his quest for first-team action.

The young Welshman, born in Liverpool, moved to Gelsenkirchen and has since made 15 appearances for David Wagner's side, scoring once.

He has emerged on United's radar as a cost-effective alternative to Sancho, for whom Borussia Dortmund will not budge from their £100million price tag.

And while Matondo, who cost Schalke in the region of £10million, boasts a £55million release clause in his contract, he is unlikely to cost even half that price - particularly given the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic across football.

This weekend, he admitted that he isn't paying attention to speculation over a potential return to Manchester however.

"Obviously there are people talking, asking me and stuff but I am not really thinking about it," Matondo told Manchester Evening News .

"I am concentrating on Schalke. I still have to achieve my goals for Schalke.

"I am just concentrating on that and we just see how things go, but for now I am just focused on Schalke.

"Hopefully I can get into the team and help them climb up the table.”

Matondo has made four appearances for Wales since being handed his debut by United legend Ryan Giggs in 2018.

Whether he would be ready to arrive at Old Trafford and make an immediate impact however is up to date.

Sancho has starred for Dortmund, is proving decisive week-in, week-out in terms of goals and assists and already boasts a wealth of Champions League experience.

Matondo is much further back in his development, arguably further back than Dan James, his international teammate, when he arrived for £16million from Swansea last summer.

Since heading to Germany he has played just 30 percent of Schalke's total minutes in the Bundesliga, but started and played 77 minutes in the 3-0 weekend loss to Augsburg.

Asked about returning to England he added: "I haven't really thought about it like that.

"I just want to do well at Schalke and give back what they have invested into me."

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