Jadon Sancho has agreed a deal to join Juventus on loan, appearing to put an end to Raheem Sterling’s links to Manchester United.
Sancho is free to leave Old Trafford this summer, despite mending his differences with boss Erik ten Hag. The winger has been left out of both squads for United’s Premier League games so far this season.
With the Englishman having no future in Manchester – Juve and Chelsea emerged as potential suitors. The Blues’ interest was contingent on United agreeing to a swap deal involving Sterling.
The Chelsea man is in a similar situation to Sancho and has been frozen out by boss Enzo Maresca. But it now appears that Sancho has rejected the chance to join the London side and is instead set to leave the Premier League.
According to L’Equipe, Sancho has approached Juve to seal a loan move to the Serie A giants. Juve are said to have agreed on many of the details with United, which will contain an option to buy clause.
That clause will have ‘very low conditions’ to be activated though, making it likely Sancho will ultimately be bidding a permanent farewell to United this summer. Signing Sancho means the Italian giants have brought in one of their top summer targets.
The 24-year-old had also been heavily linked with a move to PSG, possibly as part of a swap deal involving Manuel Ugarte. But the French giants dropped their interest in Sancho, with Ugarte set to move to United in a straightforward transfer.
After leaving him out of the opening day win over Fulham, Ten Hag pointed to a recent illness Sancho had. But it was ultimately understood to be a selection decision, with the United boss warning the winger he had to fight for his place.
“First of all we need squad depth and we need it this season to be survival of the fittest. I can only put 20 players in the squad, I have to make choices and in the week, he had an ear infection but he was not 100 per cent fit,” Ten Hag said.
“He could play but if we had the choices, we preferred to put other players on the bench but that will change in the season as we have to rotate, because we can’t play so many games the same. You see how important the subs are and you see it is about balance.
“Sometimes it is frustrating about the team, the club and there will be more players in this position. We expect them to fight for the club, as we have so many games to play for the club. Everyone will get their minutes and then they have to prove it.”
Sancho was also left out of the squad for the defeat to Brighton on Saturday. Ten Hag again warned the former England international that he needed to improve his performances in training.
Ten Hag told TNT Sports: “He’s here [at the stadium], but I had a choice to make. We had some issues, we need a full squad. He’s one of them. He has to compete in his position. Game-by-game we will have a look. We need two players in every position because it is a long season.”
