Jadon Sancho has forced Man Utd’s hand after Aston Villa embarrassment | Football | Sport
Despite the criticism levelled at Antony and Rasmus Hojlund, Manchester United managed to recoup some funds when offloading their costly errors. United acquired Antony from Ajax for a fee that could rise to £86.3million, before selling him to Real Betis for a fixed fee of €22m (£19m) with potential add-ons of €3m (£2.6m). If all add-ons are triggered, this equates to a loss of £64.7m.
Hojlund’s arrival saw United agree to pay as much as £72m, but his loan move to Napoli includes an obligation to buy at the end of the season for £38m next summer, resulting in a far smaller loss of £34m than it could have been. Jadon Sancho has escaped the ire of United fans recently, largely due to his absence from the club as he attempts to revive his career. His career continues to plummet, having been substituted on and off in Aston Villa’s win over Manchester City, and there’s every chance he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer next summer.
A £72.9m signing, a £72.9m loss. Even Antony and Hojlund weren’t that disastrous.
The Manchester Evening News reported on Monday that United would decide on Sancho’s future before the season’s end, with the club considering whether to activate the 12-month extension in his contract or let him leave for nothing.
It seems utterly inconceivable that a club could spend £72.9m on a player and not opt to trigger a 12-month extension in his contract, thereby giving them the chance to try and sell him next summer – the fee would be minimal but it would be better than nothing.
United find themselves in a predicament with Sancho, who Chelsea paid £5m not to sign last summer and is already causing a stir at Aston Villa after refusing Unai Emery’s handshake on the touchline on Sunday.
It should be noted that United have received substantial loan fees from Dortmund and Chelsea, which means their loss on the player won’t be as severe as it could have been. However, the fact that both clubs chose not to sign him permanently after initially being eager to take him on loan speaks volumes.
Sancho may turn things around at Villa and secure a permanent move to Villa Park or elsewhere, but that seems unlikely.
The January transfer window will mark two years since Sancho’s loan move to Dortmund, during which his only appearance for United was in the Community Shield, essentially a pre-season friendly. Two years later, United still don’t want him but can’t sell him either.
The case for allowing a £72.9m signing to walk out of the exit door for free is becoming increasingly persuasive as Sancho’s diminishing stock continues to force United’s hand.
