Jadon Sancho is back with the Manchester United squad. It’s tough to read too much into it right now.
It was a bolt from the blue to see Jadon Sancho back in training at Carrington. This wasn’t a case of him training individually, no, he was fully back, integrated with the Manchester United team.
The party line from Old Trafford is that a line has been drawn under the disagreement between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag.
Whether this lasts, is another matter. The Sancho situation has split fans, of who many expected Manchester United and Jadon Sancho to move on. Others are excited to have another talented player back into the mix.
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Jadon Sancho had no options
Manchester United’s intention heading into the transfer window was to sell Jadon Sancho. Yet this was looking increasingly difficult.
Just 24 hours before Sancho’s re-integration to the squad, Borussia Dortmund strongly hinted they would not return for him, by assigning the number 10 shirt he wore last season, to Julian Brandt.
Interest from Italy appears to be clubs trying to sign him on the cheap, on loan, with Sancho’s wages a barrier to a potential move.
If United are to sell Sancho, then it does no favours to keep him isolated. No club will want to sign a high salaried and expensive player who has not had a pre-season.
This is why we remain sceptical Sancho will still be a Manchester United player after the transfer window.
Sancho’s return could simply have been a move to preserve what little there is of his market value, and put him in the shop window for pre-season.
Temporary truce or permanent fix
Jadon Sancho’s return could be win-win for Manchester United. The biggest upside would be if he could reclaim his place as a useful member of the first team squad.
It is a chance many feel he does not deserve. But Sancho’s return does indicate ‘the adults are back in charge’ at Manchester United, led by a new Ineos regime.
The winger has a free hit during pre-season to try and show he is of value to the squad and connect with his teammates.
He could play with Rasmus Hojlund for the first time, and also link up with new signing Joshua Zirkzee.
And if he thrives – perhaps it leads to an eventual sale on transfer deadline day.
Only once deadline day passes, will be properly be able to assess the Jadon Sancho situation.
Right now it is impossible to establish whether this is a permanent fix with Sancho, or just a temporary truce.
And that uncertainty will hover, whatever happens in July and August. Even if he plays and scores for United in pre-season and early games – this could just be a prelude to accepting a late bid.
Are United and Sancho selling everybody a dummy?
Once we hit September, the situation with Jadon Sancho will be one we can dig into with a bit more certainty.
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