As Jadon Sancho closes in on a deadline day loan move to Aston Villa, he will hope to rediscover the form that has escaped him at Manchester United and Chelsea.
The England international became a £73m signing for United in 2021 after his electric performances for Borussia Dortmund but has struggled to replicate that threat in the Premier League.
A loan move back to Dortmund in 2024 saw Sancho ‘rejuvenated’ as he reached the Champions League final, only for last season’s spell at Chelsea to follow a similar pattern to his United form.
Jadon Sancho of Manchester United in action during the 2024 FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2024
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
With Aston Villa now set to agree a loan deal for Sancho, they will hope that the winger replicates his Bundesliga form as opposed to his Premier League struggles.
Rio Ferdinand has told Aston Villa how to unlock the best out of Jadon Sancho
Speaking after the 2024 Champions League semi-final first leg between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand couldn’t hide his excitement at Sancho’s expressive performance.
After that game, Ferdinand said: “Jadon was making players dance, he was a joke. We haven’t seen that since he was at Dortmund before.
Games Goals Assists
Borussia Dortmund 158 58 67
Manchester United 83 12 6
Chelsea 41 5 10
Jadon Sancho career statistics by club. (Source: Transfermarkt)
“What I say today more than anything, that was cage football Sancho. This is the kid who grew up in cage football with that bit of swagger. He is in the groove now. He will come off the pitch on a high.”
If Sancho can re-find that ‘swagger’ at Villa Park, similar to close friend Marcus Rashford during his loan spell last season, then Villa could have secured a significant transfer coup.
Jadon Sancho must show ‘arrogance’ again after Manchester United and Chelsea struggles
After that Champions League game, another ex-United player – Owen Hargreaves – explained how Sancho is at his best when showing an arrogant side to his performances.
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid CF - UEFA Champions League Final 2023/24
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
“His body language suggested he believes. There was a bit of arrogance,” Hargreaves noted. “At United he didn’t commit people but Jadon answered a lot of questions.
“He outplayed every player on the pitch and there are world-class players. He out-performed the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe. He looked fitter, and sharper and more confident.”
The United and Chelsea spells place an understandable question mark over Sancho’s fit at Aston Villa, however his excellent progress over two spells at Borussia Dortmund raises the hope that Unai Emery can provide him the platform to rediscover his best form.