Jadon Sancho unsure of Saudi Arabia interest with Man Utd loan exit likely in January
Jadon Sancho’s representatives are insistent that the forward will not be forced out of Manchester United to the highest bidder, amid interest from across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Sancho remains due to leave United in the January transfer window despite the process of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25% stake in the club, and assumption of control of the footballing structure, being close to completion.
Sancho has been excluded from the first team following a fall out with manager Erik ten Hag following the defeat at Arsenal earlier in the season, where Ten Hag intimated the England international had been left out of the matchday squad due to application in training. Sancho responded with a public statement defying his manager on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and the post remained pinned to his profile for a number of days.
United confirmed following the fall out that Sancho was excluded from the first team and it has remained the case since, with 90min reporting a number of weeks ago that their relationship was essentially beyond repair at this point. Ten Hag has wanted Sancho to apologise to mend fences, but there has been no sign of that forthcoming and is unlikely to happen at this point.
A number of clubs have shown interest in the player dating back through the last year, including last summer and now since the fall out, but very few interested parties are able to offer United a financial package that would suit them at this point to convince them to sell.
Loan deals look potentially more viable at this point, with Sancho far from sure about interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia. 90min reported of interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia late in the summer window but Sancho wasn’t keen on the move then, and it’s understood he remains unconvinced.
Sancho’s representatives have made it clear to United that they will be choosing Sancho’s next move, though some different faces could be making decisions within the walls of Old Trafford by early 2024.
The 23-year-old’s preference for much of his unhappy stay at United has been to move back to former club Borussia Dortmund, who he joined United from in 2021, but the player is aware a move back is not simple given United’s committed expense to the transfer fee paid at the time and his wage package, which puts him among United’s highest earners.
The Bundesliga club would need to make room in their squad to accommodate Sancho and a loan is most likely, but Sancho would require United to be flexible to make the move happen. Sancho himself is willing to sacrifice a part of his pay packet to facilitate the move given Germany is his first choice and likely quickest step to getting his career back on track.
Juventus are also interested in Sancho but, like Dortmund, are not in anywhere near a position to complete a permanent move at the sums United would expect or hope for. United themselves are open to a loan deal but would like obligations built in that could trigger a permanent deal, for example based on appearances, but the two suitors would like an option instead.
United are also open to longer term loan deals, up to the length of 18 months potentially, and will hope that any temporary departure can increase his market value to levels close to their initial expense. Sancho also has interest from clubs in Spain.
Turkey is also an option for Sancho but the player is keen to stay in one of Europe’s top leagues.
