I do wonder whether 'this' is simple brinkmanship with a very clear end game (blink first in the dying embers of the window) or a plan that has backfired with comeuppance from resistance we simply did not foresee.
If we fail to get the player, after supposedly briefing and keeping up the charade that things are ongoing (by not simply killing the story outright), it'll look very poor on our part if all the eggs that are in the Sancho basket turn out to be duds.
If there was little to no intention of spending big this window, then simply shut your mouth and let the fans whine whilst drowning out the white noise, but why stoke fires on a global scale if you're not going to come through in the end. Drawing all that unnecessary ire toward the club is worse than keeping schtum. If there is a perception of incompetence regarding Woodard and Judge with these things, this courtship falling through would compound that to levels untold thus far. It really would be an odd thing to have brought upon themselves/the club.
As the window dwindles, you also have to wonder which clubs with assets that can enhance us would entertain selling with so little time to acquire what they themselves need plus the knowledge all suitors will have of the fat wedge we've just given them being so detrimental to their own negotiations.
Unless Dortmund already have a plan in place and will either use someone currently in their squad or have identified a replacement who the selling club are willing to give up, there is also a question of what point they would outright reject the sale. Sure, if the plan is to pocket the cash and hoodwink their fans, this can go to the very end of the window, but if there is a chain set in motion the moment we pony up, the time for that to realistically play out is finite and certainly not last minute.
I don't know what we're up to behind the scenes with this, but as time elapses, the logical state of play rears its head and asks questions - or demands answers - that were not, or are not currently an issue.
There is an element of curiosity in seeing how far we think we can push Dortmund or whether there's even a plan to do so over plain impasse that won't be broken without some give on our side. If they're adamant on terms (no clauses and incentives for the full amount) then it's up to us to yield, in good time, or walk away.
The 'sage' is an absolute damp squib as far as entertainment goes because we're essentially clueless and there aren't any scraps to feed on, so you do just want a fast-forward a week or 10 days to get to the juicy part where, I feel, decisions will be made and the time for real moves in lieu of all these feints and posturing take over.
On another note, if we're keeping tabs on Bellingham and Haaland with the intent to throw our hats in the ring when the time comes, surely the best working relationship we can muster with Dortmund is essential with this transfer so taking this to the absolute wire, assuming they will fold, perhaps isn't the best course of action for the sour taste it'd leave behind.