Man Utd could be beaten to Jadon Sancho transfer by arch-rivals Liverpool, claims Peter Crouch

EX-LIVERPOOL striker Peter Crouch believes that his former club could be the 'perfect fit' for England starlet Jadon Sancho when the Dortmund winger decides to return to the Premier League.

The 19-year-old has been the subject of strong interest from the Reds' arch-rivals Man Utd, however, with Dortmund chiefs having confirmed meetings with the Red Devils taking place over Sancho in episode three of their Amazon Prime documentary series.

Crouch questioned whether Old Trafford would actually be the best destination for Sancho in his column: "All being well, he will return to the Premier League.

"Clubs will be queuing up to sign him and while there has been noise about him joining Manchester United, I wonder whether Liverpool might actually be the perfect fit.

"It would not surprise me to see him at Anfield."

The pacey and skilful former Man City youngster scored 12 goals in the Bundesliga for Dortmund last season - while assisting a further 17 - and would certainly fit in with Liverpool goal-machines Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

Sancho left City for Germany in 2017 - and Crouch is full of admiration for the youngster's brave decision: "What he did to launch his career deserves huge praise.

"It couldn't have been easy leaving England to play club football in Germany, but he looks destined to become a superstar and I thought he was superb against Kosovo.

"The easy thing for him to do would have been to remain at Manchester City, get paid well and make the odd appearance off the bench, but he stepped out of his comfort zone to join Borussia Dortmund and you can see how much he is enjoying himself.

"The more I see of Sancho, the more I am convinced he is going to be the one who explodes on to the scene."

Before any transfer takes place, Sancho will have the opportunity to test himself against the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan in the Champions League group stage this season.

The 19-year-old already looks a shoo-in for Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020 next summer - having taken current Man Utd starlet Marcus Rashford's place in England's starting XI against Kosovo.

Red Devils fans will be hoping that Sancho defies Crouch to line up alongside Rashford at Old Trafford next season.