Jadon Sancho is showing signs of life at Aston Villa, but nobody is getting fooled at Man Utd, and it’s because his main hurdle to a move is no longer their problem.
When lists are written in the future about Man Utd’s worst-ever signings, Jadon Sancho’s name will appear at or near the very top in most.
He’s a player whom United spent multiple years chasing, and have since spent multiple years and windows trying to shift him, while he throws petty digs at the club that pays his wages.
Now that rumours of a familiar return are growing for him, United can rest easy knowing that the main hurdle to his transfer in the past is no longer a problem for them now.
Jadon Sancho warming up for Aston Villa
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Jadon Sancho in action for Manchester United vs Manchester City.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Jadon Sancho’s wages became a stumbling block for Man Utd
In a move that is trademark Ed Woodward, a recently-twenty-one-year-old player was made one of the highest earners at the club when Jadon Sancho joined.
At the time, not many raised their eyebrows because it was mainly just a sense of relief that a deal nearly three years in the making was finally happening.
However, the true extent of what a disaster that was came to the surface later when United tried to shift Sancho.
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His underperformance at Old Trafford didn’t help, but his humongous wages made it borderline impossible for the club to move him on.
If it were up to United, they would have happily taken even a huge loss on his transfer fees just to see the back of him.
However, nobody was ever going to match the wages Woodward had signed off on for him, and that led to multiple moves collapsing in the last two years for him.
They would have faced a similar situation this summer as well, regardless of how well he does at Villa, but fortunately, Sancho’s stance on wages is no longer United’s problem.
Sancho’s wages are no longer Man Utd’s problem
Sancho’s contract runs out in the summer, but United hold an option to extend it by a year.
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It’s fair to assume that the extension won’t get triggered, which means he will be free to speak to other clubs for a free agent transfer.
Dortmund are interested again, only this time, they can’t plead poverty and play a game of poker with Man Utd if they want to sign him.
Either Sancho agrees to drop his wage demands, which he will have to do for a move, or Dortmund don’t get the player, because neither party can hide behind United anymore.
It’s going to bring out the true colours of Sancho who has prioritised getting the full money from United instead of backing himself to play regularly and prove people wrong.
It’s why he rejected a move to Italy last summer, and other moves have fallen through in the past.
Fortunately, come the summer, that will no longer be United’s problem. He can take a pay cut or stay unemployed.
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