TEAMtalk can confirm that Manchester United is so keen to get rid of Jadon Sancho this summer that they have invited Chelsea and Arsenal to make an offer. However, Manchester City has also been contacted about the possibility of a sensational reunion and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has set a new lowball price.
After a dramatic £73 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021, the winger has fallen short of expectations at Old Trafford, making just 12 goals in 82 games thus far. In September of last year, Sancho had a highly publicised fallout with Erik ten Hag. He publicly accused the Manchester United manager of lying about his exclusion from the team that lost to Arsenal. As a result, Sancho was granted permission to return to Borussia Dortmund on loan early in the January transfer window.
Ever since returning to the Westfalenstadion, Sancho has provided a useful reminder of the reasons why United was so keen to sign him. The winger was instrumental in getting the Bundesliga team to the Champions League final, revelling in the freedom and faith that Edin Terzic bestowed upon him.
Rio Ferdinand was ecstatic about the 24-year-old’s performance during their semi-final first-leg triumph against PSG. The former United player said of Sancho, “He’s shaking and baking top players here.” He’s getting folks to dance and getting them on the floor.
Sancho is expected to return to Old Trafford early next month ahead of preseason training, but Dortmund lacks the funds to secure his return permanently.
Man Utd sets the price at £40 and offers Sancho to four teams.
However, a split with Sancho is now certain as the team has also decided to support Ten Hag as manager following an extensive internal investigation regarding the Dutchman’s suitability to remain at Old Trafford.
It’s interesting to note that TEAMtalk has learned that Ratcliffe was informed by United’s newly appointed technical director, Jason Wilcox, that Ratcliffe feels Sancho ought to be given an opportunity to establish himself at Old Trafford.
But with Ten Hag remaining and no ceasefire in place between the two teams, the Red Devils have now made it clear that they intend to let the winger go.
Additionally, Ratcliffe, United’s minority stakeholder, has contacted four elite teams to let them know the winger is available.
In light of this, sources have told TEAMtalk that the aforementioned teams have been informed that United is seeking a package for the winger totaling £40 million. Although selling him this summer would be their ideal scenario, they could accept a loan with a buyout clause for the following summer, or they could even look at a structured transaction that would see the amount met through a variety of conceivable bonuses and add-ons.
Additionally, it has been reported that United officials have made Sancho available to Chelsea, with their desired transfer fee explicitly stated.
However, Barcelona and Arsenal have also been contacted about signing him, so they are by no means the only team making an offer.
The most surprising move, though, has seen United give Manchester City, their bitter rivals, the chance to reunite with the winger who left for just £8 million to play for Pep Guardiola back in the summer of 2017.
What are the possibilities that Man City will re-sign Jadon Sancho?
Sancho was regarded as City’s best potential at the time, and the club’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, even promised him a quick path to the first team.
Sancho was sold to BVB after Guardiola removed him from their preseason training squad and it was revealed that he was in talks with other clubs. The player appeared to be upset at Guardiola’s inability to provide a guarantee on playing time.
Ten Hag, the severe disciplinarian, has subsequently questioned his attitude. Although there is no denying his skill, it is still up for debate if Guardiola will give in and bring the player back to the Etihad.
Nevertheless, there might be a chance there at City, since it’s said that the Cityzens are willing to let go of £100 million player Jack Grealish after he dropped down the hierarchy.
But most of Sancho’s suitors also find his £250,000 weekly wage worrisome, especially since there’s no assurance that whomever contracts him won’t know what they’re getting.
As of right now, none of the four teams that United has approached have accepted their offer to sign Sancho, so it appears that another loan is the best outcome they can hope for at this time.
That will be a setback for Ratcliffe, who since assuming sports control in February and paying £1.3 billion to acquire 27.7% of the Glazers’ shares, has been determined to get rid of the team’s highest-earning but underperforming players.
And although Anthony Martial, who makes £250,000 a week, and Raphael Varane, who makes £370,000 a week, have already made way, Ratcliffe might have to wait a little longer to move on Sancho.
