Sancho gets 'appealing' option over Man Utd exit as Ten Hag stands firm

28 September 2023 , 16:11

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Jadon Sancho has been linked with a move back to Borussia Dortmund (Image: Getty Images)

The prospect of re-signing Jadon Sancho from Manchester United would be an 'appealing' option for Borussia Dortmund in January, it has been claimed.

Sancho has not played since being axed by United ahead of their Premier League trip to Arsenal earlier this month. In his post-match press conference, Erik ten Hag revealed the 23-year-old had not been picked in his 20-man squad because of his poor performances in training.

It is safe to say the England international was not impressed with Ten Hag's comments. Sancho took to social media and hit back at his manager, claiming he is being made a "scapegoat". The winger also felt he had been "training very well" and there were "other reasons" behind his exile.

Ten Hag has since banned Sancho from first-team training and he is instead pursuing an individual training programme using the academy facilities at Carrington. Following United's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Ten Hag admitted it "it's up to him" when questioned about whether Sancho will soon return.

However, Sancho could now leave United in the January transfer window. According to BILD, the idea of bringing Sancho back 'would be appealing' for Dortmund as Edin Terzic's side continue to struggle for creativity and killer instinct in the final third, having lost Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid in the summer.

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Dortmund have picked up 11 points from their opening five Bundesliga matches but have scored nine fewer goals than leaders Bayern Munich (18) in that time. Their 1-0 victory over Wolfsburg encapsulated Dortmund's current issues in front of goal, despite Marco Reus' second-half strike.

Terzic's men also failed to find the net in their 2-0 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain and could be in the market for another attacking player in January. Sancho is someone who has been linked with a return to Signal Iduna Park - just over two years since his £73million move to United.

Jadon Sancho could leave Manchester United in January (Getty Images)

Sancho was exceptional for Dortmund, especially in his final season. He scored 16 goals and provided 20 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions, including a brace in the DFB-Pokal final against RB Leipzig. At the time, Sancho was one of the most highly sought-after wingers on the planet and also featured for England at Euro 2020.

But Sancho has never really got going at the Red Devils, after first working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before Ralf Rangnick took over as interim boss and Ten Hag was appointed in April 2022. During his time at Old Trafford thus far, Sancho has scored just 12 times in 82 matches.

Following his outburst with Ten Hag on September 3, Sancho was tipped to join the Saudi Pro League exodus and team up with Al-Ettifaq on a season-long loan. However, a deal collapsed as United wanted include a £50m obligation to buy at the end of the campaign - something Steven Gerrard's side could not afford.

Kieran King