Transfer Centre

Jadon Sancho 'closing in on Manchester United exit'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 03 October 2023

Jadon Sancho 'closing in on Man United exit'

Jadon Sancho is likely to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window due to the breakdown of his relationship with Erik ten Hag, according to a report.

Jadon Sancho is likely to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to a report.

The 23-year-old has not featured for the Red Devils since August following his well-documented fallout with manager Erik ten Hag, and he has been ordered to stay away from the club's first-team facilities.

Ten Hag decided to drop Sancho from the matchday squad for the defeat at Arsenal at the beginning of last month due to his poor performances in training, and the winger took to social media to criticise the Dutchman, stating that he has "been a scapegoat for a long time".

Sancho's social media comments have since been deleted, but the Englishman is allegedly refusing to apologise for his actions, while Ten Hag has no intention of backing down in his stand-off with the winger.

Man United's hierarchy, including director of football John Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold, were hoping that the matter would be swiftly resolved, but a compromise is yet to be found between Ten Hag and Sancho.

Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho on February 1, 2023 © Reuters

According to Sky Sports News, senior players at Man United have attempted to remedy the situation without resolution, with Sancho left training alone after being frozen out of first-team action.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that Sancho is on the verge of leaving Old Trafford in January due to the breakdown of his relationship with Ten Hag.

The report adds that Sancho has been in regular contact with Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic, with the German club said to be keen to reunite with the Englishman.

Sancho joined Dortmund from Manchester City at the age of 17 for around £8m in the summer of 2017, and he worked under Terzic during his four-year spell in Germany, recording 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 senior appearances across all competitions.

Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho pictured on February 13, 2021 © Reuters

Sancho then decided to return to England and join Man United for around £75m in the summer of 2021, but he has failed to reach the heights expected at Old Trafford, scoring just 12 goals and providing six assists in 82 games across all tournaments.

Dortmund are said to acknowledge that it will be difficult to lure Sancho away from Man United in the winter window, and a loan move is considered more likely than a permanent transfer.

Jose Mourinho's Roma, Barcelona and Nottingham Forest have also been credited with an interest in Sancho, while clubs in Saudi Arabia attempted to recruit the winger in the summer and may consider reigniting their interest in 2024.

Sancho, who still has three years remaining on his reported £350,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford, will remain unavailable for selection when Man United play host to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night.