Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, Aston Villa badge (inset, top), Unai Emery (inset, bottom)
Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, Aston Villa badge (inset, top), Unai Emery (inset, bottom)
Aston Villa look set to seal the deadline day signing of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, and they can expect the seal of approval from Erling Haaland when the move is confirmed.
Sancho has been frozen out at Manchester United after loan moves at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, and now Aston Villa appear to be his next club.
The England international has over 120 appearances for United and Chelsea since leaving Dortmund in 2021, but only has 17 goals and 16 assists in that time – a significant slump from his 120 goals or assists in 158 appearances across his two spells at Dortmund.
Jadon Sancho in action for Manchester United in the Premier League
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
With Ruben Amorim making it clear that Sancho is not part of his United plans, Villa will sign him on loan for the season and hope to give him a platform to perform in the Premier League.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says Jadon Sancho was the best player he played against
Jadon Sancho was a teammate with Erling Haaland before both moved to the Premier League, playing together in 46 appearances for Borussia Dortmund and combining for 11 goals.
Haaland has regularly praised Sancho, describing his 2024 return to Dortmund as ‘beautiful’ on social media and he has also called sancho a ‘proper baller’.
RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund - DFB Cup Final 2021
Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images
Speaking in 2020, Haaland said: “You can see the goals and the way in which he dribbles past players it’s looking so easy.
“It’s also funny because I played against him when I was 16-years-old, and he was the exact same player dribbling past players. When I played against him then he was the best player I played against because he was so good.
“Now that I get to play with him it’s fantastic and he’s also assisted me and we play good together, he’s as young as me and he’s amazing. He has a very bright future.”
Erling Haaland has told Unai Emery how to get the best out of Jadon Sancho at Aston Villa
Haaland’s comments point to a free, unrestricted role for Jadon Sancho from his time at Borussia Dortmund and it is no surprise that he played the best football of his career there.
If he is given a similar freedom at Villa Park under Unai Emery, perhaps with less pressure than he found at Chelsea and Manchester United, it could be a shrewd signing from Villa.
Villa gave a new lease of life to Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio last season, while Haaland has praised Jack Grealish for his start at Everton on loan from Manchester City.
If a striker like Haaland is a huge fan of Sancho, Villa will be happy with their late signing in the transfer window, even despite his United issues.