In a surprising turn of events, Jadon Sancho could have a future at Manchester United.
The former Watford and Manchester City youngster is currently not a fan favourite because of different sentiments surrounding the issue he had with Erik ten Hag which led to his ostracisation from the club and eventually return to Borussia Dortmund on loan last season. However, he has been a key part of the team’s pre-season so far.
Despite talks of a move to Juventus on the cards, it now looks like the winger could remain at United. This is thanks to the injury suffered by the club’s main striker, Rasmus Højlund. The Dane will be out for the first few weeks of the new season after picking up an injury in their second pre-season game against Arsenal, in which he also scored.
The club have already signed a second striker, Joshua Zirkzee, who came in as a replacement for Anthony Martial. However, the player is taking some time to adapt to the team and his new teammates, leading ten Hag to consider other options, none of which involves buying a new striker.
One of those options includes playing Sancho in the false 9 position while inside forwards, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho supply the wing play. The former Ajax boss tested this out in their 3 – 0 pre-season loss to Liverpool recently and plainly stated to the media after the game that it was one of the options he was considering ahead of the new season.
“Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t play with him there,” he explained. “Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in. He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.
“Jadon can of course play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be he is a good option.”
Rashford is the other option for that position. He has been deployed there in the past as well. However, ten Hag said he would rather keep Rashford on the wings and have him do damage from there with his natural talents as an inside forward.
“I think Marcus has done it [play as a striker] before, he can do it and it is definitely an option,” the United manager added. “But I think he is more productive from the left inside, when he is coming inside, so when he can arrive there he is most effective. But we also have Bruno Fernandes as a striker as well.”
