Jadon Sancho cost Man Utd £73m in 2021 (Photo: Getty)
Jadon Sancho has been dubbed ‘one of Manchester United’s biggest transfer failures’ by former Red Devils forward Louis Saha.
The England winger’s Old Trafford exile has finally ended – temporarily at least – after his loan move back to former club Borussia Dortmund was completed on Thursday.
Sancho had not played since August after a public falling out with Erik ten Hag after the manager criticised his efforts in training, only for the player to hit back on social media, claiming he had been made a ‘scapegoat’.
Since then, he has been banished from the first-team and unless Ten Hag were to leave United, his future at the club looks to be all but over.
It’s a bitter and disappointing end for a player who cost United £73million and was expected to light up the Premier League for years and years to come.
Fans, players and pundits have been divided over the matter, but overall Saha believes the whole saga has just been a ‘horrendous’ mess, saying: ‘Jadon Sancho is one of Manchester United’s biggest transfer failures – you can’t have that type of quality sidelined because of his mindset.
‘You can’t leave him out for six months because of that. The only thing that should stop you is injuries.
‘We know that he is good enough, which is why it doesn’t sit right. You can’t be putting yourself in that situation and thinking that you are bigger than the manager.
‘Whatever happens, I don’t back Sancho – which is hard for me as a supporter of United. It’s just horrendous.’
Despite a woeful season so far, United are not expected to make any big moves in the January transfer window, though Saha believes that the return of several key stars from injury can have the same impact as a new signing.
Lisandro Martinez is expected to be back from injury in February (Photo: Getty)
‘With transfers, it’s all about getting players with the right energy and attitude in – it’s tough,’ he added.
‘I’d love to name names for Manchester United this January, but for them to challenge the teams at the top, it’s not just one player, or even two. It’s going to be a tough market.
‘There should be an expectation and responsibility for the players there to change things, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
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‘I hope that the players coming back from injury return in better shape. Players like Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez are going to be like new signings. I’m more excited to see them back, than see any other new players come in.
‘I could see a striker, or midfielder come in, but getting those guys back is better than a transfer deal.’
Louis Saha was speaking to Paddy Power.
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Sancho has completed his return to Borussia Dortmund.