The Red Devils are struggling to offload their exiled winger (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United are struggling to find a new club for Jadon Sancho and may have to cross their own ‘red line’ in order to shift him, according to reports.
The 23-year-old, who cost £73million, has not played for the Red Devils since August after a public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag over his non-selection against Arsenal at the start of September.
Ten Hag claimed Sancho was not training at the level required, an accusation the England international contested in a lengthy post on social media platform X in which he hit back at his manager and said he was being made a ‘scapegoat’.
Despite clear-the-air talks, Sancho refused to back down or apologise for his comments and has been exiled to the academy facilities ever since.
United were hoping to offload him when the transfer window reopens in January, with clubs in Saudi Arabia showing interest as well as former club Borussia Dortmund.
But both those links have gone cold more recently, with the Public Investment Fund-backed Saudi clubs already having maxed out their quota of foreign players and Dortmund unable to cover Sancho’s £350,000-a-week salary.
Now The Sun are reporting that United are facing up to the prospect of having to keep the exiled winger until the summer – unless they are prepared to change their stance on a domestic loan.
Sancho has not played for United still falling out with Ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Although the club, manager and player all feel a January exit is the best move for all concerned, United have received very little concrete interest.
United’s hierarchy have been working ‘flat out’ to try and get a deal in place but have received no firm offers, with Sancho’s enormous salary – which he will not take a hit on – the main sticking point.
Those clubs that have shown interest in Sancho are also worried that he will take a significant amount of time to get back up to full match fitness and sharpness given that he has not played for the best part of four months.
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Signing Sancho in the mid-point of the season may not make as much sense as waiting until the summer, while interested clubs are also conscious that they have a strong bargaining position with United clearly desperate to sell or loan.
One issue United might need to reconsider if no offers are forthcoming is their decision to rule out a loan to a Premier League rival.
While Sancho may not have lived up to his price tag at Old Trafford, United do not want to strengthen a top-four rival by letting him join another Premier League side for the remainder of the season – and potentially scupper his parent club from securing Champions League football.
Right now, a domestic loan is considered a ‘red line’ United do not want to cross, but, if Sancho is still on their books come late January, they may need to reconsider that stance.
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