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Manchester United finished the 2023/24 Premier League season in eighth place, their worst finish in the competition, and it is clear that a major overhaul of the squad is needed.
But after years of mismanagement under the Glazers, the rules of profit and sustainability have caught up with the Red Devils and they will have to focus on sales first before starting recruitment.
The new co-owners of INEOS are planning a big summer showdown, and the list includes not only big-name players at the club, but also stars who have excelled on loan, such as Jadon Sancho.
The Englishman was called out by manager Erik ten Hag after the Arsenal game earlier in the season for his poor training sessions, and the winger reacted in the worst possible way by making a statement on social media against the Dutchman.
The players’ camp accused the former Ajax coach of offering preferential treatment to other stars, and Sancho was subsequently dropped from the first team after refusing to apologize for his wrongdoings.
What led to Sancho’s loan
Despite his teammates trying to end the row, the former Manchester City academy graduate remained adamant and the situation became so grim that the player was loaned out to former club Borussia Dortmund in a bid to improve his market value ahead of a possible summer sale.
And the 24-year-old shone again in Germany, helping his club to an unlikely place in the Champions League final where they will face Real Madrid. He has three goals and as many assists since his January move and starred for his club in the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Dortmund have made no secret of their desire to keep hold of the England international, but they want to do so by paying a cut price and using Sancho’s desperation to avoid a return to Manchester as leverage.
But with INEOS now in charge, they are unlikely to sanction a cheap exit as The Sun claim the 20-time English league champions are demanding 75 per cent of the fee they paid Dortmund for him in 2021.
United paid £73m, taking the fee to around £55m, and according to the report, United are open to welcoming the versatile forward back to Old Trafford now that Jason Wilcox, his former City academy coach, is technical director at the club.
Ten Hag, whose future remains uncertain, are also said to be open to reconciliation, and that could mean Sancho has to return unless Dortmund can cough up the cash. The player will also be required to take a huge pay cut as the Bundesliga giants are in no position to pay his £275,000-a-week wages.
There is no way out of the reduced prices for Sancho
“Jadon Sancho will not get his dream ticket at a reduced price to return to Germany. Even if Borussia Dortmund meet Manchester United’s asking price, he will have to take a significant cut of his £275,000-a-week wages.
“United are happy to listen to offers but will not let the 23-capped Englishman leave for less than 75 per cent of the £73m they paid Dortmund for him in 2021.
“If Ten Haag is sacked this summer, Sancho could be welcome as new technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada worked with him at Manchester City. Sources also say that Ten Hag’s hard line has softened and he could bring him back if he stays at Old Trafford.”
There is room to catch up, especially given the season Antony has just had, but a lot will depend on how the club deal with the managerial situation and how much backroom power they now have in the new structure.
INEOS is right to ask for such a sum given Sancho’s obvious potential and his age. A big summer awaits both the club and Sanča.
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