Liverpool have taken an unexpected lead in the race for Jadon Sancho as the Dortmund winger reportedly favours a move to Anfield over anywhere else.

According to The Independent (via Sportsmole), the England international would rather join the Premier League champions than heavily-linked Manchester United. This news comes in spite of the months of talks connecting Sancho and the Red Devils, who have been eager to get a deal over the line. However, due to the 20-year-old's hefty asking price of £117 million, United failed to gather the funds in time this transfer window.

Clubs must now wait patiently until at least January if they want to negotiate with Dortmund over their star player. But for Liverpool, it's not as easy as just slamming the cash on the table.

What signing Sancho could mean for Liverpool

The Reds boast a very diverse squad. Some players have been brought in to make an instant impact like Virgil van Dijk, whilst others have been nurtured like Trent Alexander-Arnold. Signing Sancho would be another tick in the box for homegrown talent on Merseyside. However, it's likely Jurgen Klopp would need to offload someone in order to make room for the rising star.

A battle for a place on the team-sheet between Sancho and Mohamed Salah may not make for a happy dressing room. The Egyptian has smashed numerous records during his time at Liverpool and has helped the club win their sixth Champions League and first ever Premier League title, whilst also being described as a "complete player" by Arsene Wenger. Sancho however, is eight years Salah's junior and could pave the way for a whole new era at Anfield.

Ex-Liverpool man Jason McAteer recently wrote in his Racing Post column that he believes the England international will be great competition for Salah and fellow winger Sadio Mane. But a harsh reality may mean that there's no way all three can be at the club, as you would have one world class player who is likely to be unhappy with a lack of minutes. Should the Reds revisit their talks with Sancho next year and if he wants the move, Klopp and co have a huge decision to make first.

In other news, Jurgen Klopp makes smart choice to keep Xherdan Shaqiri at Anfield...