Tensions are running high at Old Trafford, as Jadon Sancho’s dispute with Erik ten Hag continues. Reports indicate that the 23-year-old’s future at United could be uncertain, with the club potentially open to January bids if the conflict isn’t resolved.
Reports state that the controversy started nearly seven weeks ago when Sancho took to social media to accuse Ten Hag of misrepresenting his training performances. Although the post has since been deleted, Sancho has not made any attempts to apologise, especially after Ten Hag cited insufficient training quality as the reason for Sancho’s omission from a match against Arsenal.
Manchester Evening News reveals that several of Sancho’s close friends and teammates have tried to mediate, urging the winger to apologise and mend ties with the manager, as they feel Sancho might be in the wrong. Furthermore, John Murtough, the football director, along with Ten Hag, have shown Sancho the path back to the first team.
Yet, Sancho’s firm stance has put his future at Manchester United under a magnifying glass. With the upcoming January transfer window, it’s possible that his tenure at the club might be nearing its end if he remains sidelined.
Sancho, valued at £73 million, had previously attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, but he declined any move towards the Middle East. If his exclusion continues, his availability during the European window could pique further interest.
As per several reports the ball is in Sancho’s court now. Ten Hag’s strict approach to discipline and standards isn’t a surprise.
His tenure has seen him making stern decisions like benching Marcus Rashford for tardiness and taking disciplinary actions against Cristiano Ronaldo and Alejandro Garnacho. The rigor Ten Hag has brought to the dressing room echoes Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal, notably regarding the senior professionals like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sancho, now training with the academy and following strict protocols at Carrington due to the presence of under-18 players, finds himself in a predicament, not just due to tardiness, but majorly because of his online outburst. The coming months will surely be pivotal for both Sancho and Manchester United as they navigate this challenging situation.
