Manchester United are closing in on Daniel James amid growing fears they will miss out on top target Jadon Sancho this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful a deal for the Swansea winger will be agreed imminently - telling Ed Woodward he wants his summer business to be concluded by July 1.

It is believed the fee for the 21-year-old could rise to between £15-20million with add-ons.

But United look set to have to shelve a move for Sancho until next summer at the earliest, with Borussia Dortmund holding firm over their insistence that the England international is not for sale.

Solskjaer identified the 19-year-old forward as the perfect profile for the squad he wants to build at Old Trafford.

Man Utd's Transfer Window shortlist 12 show all Man Utd's Transfer Window shortlist 1/12 The key targets on Man Utd’s transfer wishlist… Getty Images 2/12 Aaron Wan-Bissaka Right back, Crystal Palace



A long-term target – but United are well stocked at right back for next season with Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot. Getty images 3/12 Daniel James Winger, Swansea City



Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful a deal for the Swansea winger will be agreed imminently - telling Ed Woodward he wants his summer business to be concluded by July 1.



It is believed the fee for the 21-year-old could rise to between £15-20million with add-ons. Getty Images 4/12 Sean Longstaff Midfielder, Newcastle United



Longstaff fits perfectly into United's new transfer strategy of building for the long term. Getty Images 5/12 Harry Maguire Centre back, Leicester City



Jose Mourinho targeted the Leicester City defender last summer as part of his desperate search for a top class centre back.



Now Ole Gunnar Solskjær could reignite that pursuit after being given the go ahead by Ed Woodward to pay a club record fee for a defender this summer. REUTERS/Phil Noble 6/12 Idrissa Gueye Defensive midfield, Everton



The Senegalese midfielder, who was the subject of a January bid from Paris Saint-Germain, is now being considered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as replacement for Ander Herrera. Stu Forster/Getty Images 7/12 Jadon Sancho Winger, Borussia Dortmund



The England international and former Man City man has been identified as one of Man Utd’s top targets in the next transfer window, with a source claiming: “They are doing everything they can to sign him.”



And despite Dortmund’s public stance that he is not for sale at any price – a bid in excess of £80m is expected to be enough to lure him to Old Trafford. Bongarts/Getty Images 8/12 Declan Rice Defensive midfield, West Ham



Also being monitored by City, he could be the long-term successor to Nemanja Matic or even the Michael Carrick replacement United have been looking for. REUTERS 9/12 Callum Hudson-Odoi Winger, Chelsea



The Chelsea starlet could be an alternative to Sancho if Borussia Dortmund hold firm on their stance that Sancho is not for sale. PA 10/12 Bruno Fernandes Midfielder, Sporting Lisbon



Sporting Lisbon’s free-scoring midfielder could cost as much as £90m – but would add energy and goals to United’s engine room. AFP/Getty Images 11/12 Kalidou Koulibaly Centre back, Napoli



The long-term preferred choice at centre back – but Napoli have so far resisted United’s approaches for the Senegal defender. REUTERS 12/12 Raphael Varane Centre back, Real Madrid



United were prepared to spend £100m on the Real Madrid defender last summer and will monitor his situation at the Bernabeu amid suggestions he is ready for a new challenge. EPA 1/12 The key targets on Man Utd’s transfer wishlist… Getty Images 2/12 Aaron Wan-Bissaka Right back, Crystal Palace



A long-term target – but United are well stocked at right back for next season with Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot. Getty images 3/12 Daniel James Winger, Swansea City



Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful a deal for the Swansea winger will be agreed imminently - telling Ed Woodward he wants his summer business to be concluded by July 1.



It is believed the fee for the 21-year-old could rise to between £15-20million with add-ons. Getty Images 4/12 Sean Longstaff Midfielder, Newcastle United



Longstaff fits perfectly into United's new transfer strategy of building for the long term. Getty Images 5/12 Harry Maguire Centre back, Leicester City



Jose Mourinho targeted the Leicester City defender last summer as part of his desperate search for a top class centre back.



Now Ole Gunnar Solskjær could reignite that pursuit after being given the go ahead by Ed Woodward to pay a club record fee for a defender this summer. REUTERS/Phil Noble 6/12 Idrissa Gueye Defensive midfield, Everton



The Senegalese midfielder, who was the subject of a January bid from Paris Saint-Germain, is now being considered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as replacement for Ander Herrera. Stu Forster/Getty Images 7/12 Jadon Sancho Winger, Borussia Dortmund



The England international and former Man City man has been identified as one of Man Utd’s top targets in the next transfer window, with a source claiming: “They are doing everything they can to sign him.”



And despite Dortmund’s public stance that he is not for sale at any price – a bid in excess of £80m is expected to be enough to lure him to Old Trafford. Bongarts/Getty Images 8/12 Declan Rice Defensive midfield, West Ham



Also being monitored by City, he could be the long-term successor to Nemanja Matic or even the Michael Carrick replacement United have been looking for. REUTERS 9/12 Callum Hudson-Odoi Winger, Chelsea



The Chelsea starlet could be an alternative to Sancho if Borussia Dortmund hold firm on their stance that Sancho is not for sale. PA 10/12 Bruno Fernandes Midfielder, Sporting Lisbon



Sporting Lisbon’s free-scoring midfielder could cost as much as £90m – but would add energy and goals to United’s engine room. AFP/Getty Images 11/12 Kalidou Koulibaly Centre back, Napoli



The long-term preferred choice at centre back – but Napoli have so far resisted United’s approaches for the Senegal defender. REUTERS 12/12 Raphael Varane Centre back, Real Madrid



United were prepared to spend £100m on the Real Madrid defender last summer and will monitor his situation at the Bernabeu amid suggestions he is ready for a new challenge. EPA

United were prepared to pay in excess of £80m for the former Manchester City starlet – making him the most expensive Englishman of all time. And they were convinced a bid of that size would convince Dortmund to sell.

But in a summer when the Germans will lose Christian Pulisic to Chelsea for £58m, there is no financial pressure to sell Sancho.

Meanwhile, United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League raises the question of how willing the teenager would be to give up playing in that competition.

Solskjaer has identified the right of attack as a priority position to fill, along with right-back, where Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a target.

Although James largely operates on the left for Swansea, he is genuinely two-footed and seen as being able to solve United’s problem on the right.

In Pictures | Man United vs Cardiff | 12/05/2019 31 show all In Pictures | Man United vs Cardiff | 12/05/2019 1/31 Getty Images 2/31 AFP/Getty Images 3/31 AFP/Getty Images 4/31 AFP/Getty Images 5/31 Getty Images 6/31 Getty Images 7/31 AFP/Getty Images 8/31 Getty Images 9/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 10/31 AFP/Getty Images 11/31 AFP/Getty Images 12/31 Getty Images 13/31 AFP/Getty Images 14/31 AP 15/31 AP 16/31 Action Images via Reuters 17/31 Action Images via Reuters 18/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 19/31 REUTERS 20/31 REUTERS 21/31 REUTERS 22/31 Getty Images 23/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 24/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 25/31 Getty Images 26/31 Getty Images 27/31 Action Images via Reuters 28/31 Action Images via Reuters 29/31 Action Images via Reuters 30/31 Action Images via Reuters 31/31 Action Images via Reuters 1/31 Getty Images 2/31 AFP/Getty Images 3/31 AFP/Getty Images 4/31 AFP/Getty Images 5/31 Getty Images 6/31 Getty Images 7/31 AFP/Getty Images 8/31 Getty Images 9/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 10/31 AFP/Getty Images 11/31 AFP/Getty Images 12/31 Getty Images 13/31 AFP/Getty Images 14/31 AP 15/31 AP 16/31 Action Images via Reuters 17/31 Action Images via Reuters 18/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 19/31 REUTERS 20/31 REUTERS 21/31 REUTERS 22/31 Getty Images 23/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 24/31 Man Utd via Getty Images 25/31 Getty Images 26/31 Getty Images 27/31 Action Images via Reuters 28/31 Action Images via Reuters 29/31 Action Images via Reuters 30/31 Action Images via Reuters 31/31 Action Images via Reuters

Solskjaer has also been attracted by his blistering pace – identifying that as another area of his squad in desperate need of improvement.

United have firmed up interest in James in recent weeks and the anticipation is that he will become Solskjaer’s first signing.

The Norwegian has told the club’s recruitment department they need to be better at unearthing emerging talent, rather than relying on marquee signings and fully-established players.

After the high-profile failures of superstars like Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Alexis Sanchez, Solskjaer has made a point of monitoring younger players, who still have room for development.

Sancho and James fit that profile – even if their valuations are at very different ends of the scale.

The hope is that James will develop into a major star in the manner of countrymen Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

United also looked closely at Ryan Fraser, who has been such a revelation at Bournemouth this season.

But at the age of 25 and already established in the Premier League, it was considered the Scot’s price would be more inflated than James’, who is entering the final year of his contract.

United are unlikely to completely give up hope of convincing Dortmund to sell Sancho – but Solskjaer is determined to have his full squad in place for the tour of Australia and the Far East, which starts on July 13.

He could also look to make further attacking additions if Romelu Lukaku pushes for a move, with the Belgium striker keen to play in Italy.