Sancho could leave for free
For all the stick aimed at the likes of Antony and Rasmus Hojlund, at least Manchester United received managed to make some money back when shipping on their big-money mistakes.
United signed Antony from Ajax for a fee rising to £86.3million, before selling him to Real Betis for a fixed fee of €22m (£19m) with a potential €3m (£2.6m) in add-ons. If all add-ons are triggered, that means a loss of £64.7m.
The arrival of Hojlund saw United commit to paying as much as £72m, but with his loan move to Napoli including an obligation to buy at the end of the season for £38m next summer, the £34m loss is far smaller than it could have been.
Jadon Sancho has avoided the wrath of United fans lately, purely down to the fact he has spent so much time away from the club looking to restart his career. His career is still in freefall and there's every possibility he will be allowed to leave for free next summer. £72.9m signing, £72.9m loss. Even Antony and Hojlund weren't that bad.
The _Manchester Evening News_ reported on Monday that United would decide on Sancho's future before the end of the season, with the club weighing up whether to trigger the 12-month extension in his deal or allow him to leave for free.
It seems absolutely unthinkable that a club could spend £72.9m on a player and not choose to trigger a 12-month extension in his contract, thus allowing them the opportunity to try and sell him next summer - the fee would be minimal but it would be better than nothing.
Yet that's the position United in themselves in with Sancho. What chance have they got of offloading a player who Chelsea paid £5m not to sign in the summer and who already looks to be causing problems at Aston Villa after he snubbed Unai Emery's handshake on the touchline on Sunday.
It must be added that United have received some handsome loan fees from Dortmund and Chelsea, meaning their loss on the player won't be as bad as it could have been. But the fact both sides opted against signing him permanently having initially been so keen to take him on a temporary deal says a lot in itself.
Sancho might turn it around at Villa and secure himself a permanent both to Villa Park or elsewhere, but it's difficult to see that happening.
The January transfer window will mark the two-year anniversary of Sancho's loan move to Dortmund, in which time his only United appearance came in the glorified pre-season friendly that is the Community Shield. Two years on and United still don't want him yet still can't sell him.
The argument for letting a £72.9m signing stroll out of the exit door for free is starting to look a compelling one.