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Man United 'expect' £40m wantaway attacking outcast to attend pre-season training

By Devesh JaganathPublished: 05 July 2024 1:31 PM

Man United 'expect' attacking outcast to attend pre-season training

Manchester United are reportedly expecting Jadon Sancho to return to training next week having failed to find a buyer for the England international.

United were longtime admirers of the attacker and spent around £73m to acquire his services from Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window of 2021.

The 24-year-old struggled to find his best form since arriving at Old Trafford and fell out with the Red Devils' manager Erik ten Hag at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

After being left out of United's squad to face Arsenal last September, Sancho accused Ten Hag of unfairly singling him out and then refused to apologise to the Dutchman.

As a result, the Englishman was excluded from the Man Utd first team and was subsequently loaned back to Dortmund during the January transfer window.

Manchester United's Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho during the warm up before the match on August 7, 2022 © Reuters

Sancho to return to Man United first-team training?

United are open to selling Sancho this summer but have not received a suitable offer as yet, and according to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils now 'expect' the out-of-favour attacker to report for pre-season training this coming Monday.

The 24-year-old has not trained with the first team since Ten Hag banished him from the squad in September, and the report adds that it remains uncertain whether he will actually be permitted to participate in the senior squad's sessions next week.

It is understood that the Red Devils are still willing to part ways with Sancho for a fee of around £40m. His contract at Old Trafford runs until the summer of 2026.

Dortmund are interested in keeping the Englishman for another loan spell, but United are believed to be pushing for a permanent sale, which will allow them to use the funds generated to bring in new players this summer.

The Red Devils are said to have prioritised signing a new striker to support Rasmus Hojlund in attack, as well as a central midfielder and a centre-back this summer.

Sancho scored two goals and provided two assists in 14 Bundesliga matches for BVB since January. He also netted an important goal to help the side overcome PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16.

Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee reacts on April 13, 2024 © Reuters

Busy summer expected at Old Trafford

Sancho could be only one of several players exiting Old Trafford this summer as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the club's hierarchy prepare to move the club in a new direction after a dismal Premier League season in 2023-24.

The INEOS chief has already made significant changes in United's back office, bringing in the likes of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director and appointing Omar Berrada as the club's new chief executive.

Additionally, after much speculation, the club announced earlier this week that Ten Hag will remain in charge of the Red Devils and extended his contract by a further 12 months until 2026.

With the back office now seemingly settled, United are expected to push ahead with transfer plans and have been linked with several players in recent days, including Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

Among the players who could depart Old Trafford this summer are Mason Greenwood, who is also expected to return from his loan imminently, along with Casemiro and Donny van de Beek.