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Manchester United have set an asking price of £50 million for Jadon Sancho, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
The Red Devils have endured a disappointing season that started with so much promise after a good beginning to Erik ten Hag’s managerial reign in 2022/23.
Sancho was very much expected to be a central part of United’s progression, with a serious title challenge and a good Champions League run expected when the season kicked off.
However, things got off to a bad start and the 24 year old had a spectacular falling out with Ten Hag when he publicly criticised him for a poor attitude in training.
Sancho retaliated on social media and when he refused to apologise, he was ostracised from the squad before being loaned back to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, in January.
There, the England star rediscovered his form and he now finds himself on the cusp of a Champions League final, while United struggle to qualify for next season’s Conference League.
Dortmund are obviously keen to make the move permanent and particularly if Ten Hag stays at Old Trafford, the route back to the United starting XI looks distinctly complicated for Sancho.
However, the price tag was always going to be an issue, with Dortmund strapped for cash and United needing to recoup as big a proportion of the £73 million they paid for him as possible to abide by profit and sustainability rules.
According to Jacobs, the figure United have settled on is around two thirds of that amount.
“Understand #MUFC would still expect around £50m for Jadon Sancho, the price quoted to Al-Ettifaq last summer when they enquired about a loan with obligation,” Jacobs posted on X.
“Dortmund want Sancho and Ian Maatsen, but even with #UCL guaranteed for next season a combined outlay for both of £85m is not seen as feasible.
“Maatsen has a £35m release clause. Dortmund and Chelsea are already in talks, with the German club hoping to avoid having to trigger the clause.”
Understand #MUFC would still expect around £50m for Jadon Sancho, the price quoted to Al-Ettifaq last summer when they enquired about a loan with obligation.
Dortmund want Sancho and Ian Maatsen, but even with #UCL guaranteed for next season a combined outlay for both of £85m is… pic.twitter.com/JvODlH8vdx
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 3, 2024
To the naked eye, £50 million for the current version of Sancho would be a steal, but if Dortmund cannot afford that and no other suitors come forward, United would be under pressure to drop even further.
At 24, he is coming into the prime of his career and under the right management, who could perhaps nurture his talent and motivate him in the right way, the potential that United saw when they broke the bank for him could still be realised.
A lot could depend in this situation on whether Ten Hag is still at United next season, even though recent reports suggest Sancho wants to move on no matter what. Like any other commodity, a footballer is only worth what someone is willing to pay for him, but £50 million or less for Sancho seems like a lose-lose outcome for United.
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