Man Utd striker set for 'surprise exit' in January as €80m target 'will impact his future'

Man Utd striker Jadon Sancho could leave the club in January as 'the jury remains open' on whether Erik ten Hag can get the best out of him.

Sancho finally secured his move to Man Utd last year as the English club paid around £73m to sign him from Borussia Dortmund.

The winger shone for the Bundesliga side for several seasons and he also had an impact in the Champions League.

He struggled at Man Utd as he couldn't adjust to life in the Premier League.

Sancho got a fresh start this summer when Ten Hag took over at Man Utd. The 22-year-old took advantage of this at the start of the season as his form improved.

It even led to calls for him to be back in contention for England, but his form again plummeted in the weeks leading up to the World Cup.

He hasn't traveled with the rest of the United squad for their mid-season camp and Ten Hag has revealed his player is struggling "physically and mentally".

"I don't think he'll be back this week, no," Ten Hag told reporters.

"We want to bring him back as soon as possible, but I can't predict when that will be.

"Sometimes there are circumstances with fitness and mood. We've had a drop in quality and sometimes you don't know why or what's causing it.

"That's what we're doing now to try to get him back there. It's a combination of physical and mental."

This fueled rumors that Sancho could leave and he has been linked with Premier League rivals Chelsea.

TEAMtalk transfer expert Graeme Bailey suggested Gakpo's potential arrival could impact Sancho.

"As things stand, Erik Ten Hag thinks he can bring Jadon Sancho back to his best," Bailey told TEAMtalk.

"He and his team, including Steve McClaren, have done a great job with Marcus Rashford. The jury is out on whether they can do the same here.

"United want Sancho back to his best, despite being at the bottom of the pecking order at the moment.

“Another issue that Sancho will face could be the potential arrival of Cody Gakpo. This could also impact his future.”

Gakpo has had a great few months and is now claimed to be valued at €80m before January.

TEAMtalk describes Sancho's departure as a potential "surprise exit". Bailey can't see Sancho leaving permanently but a loan is possible.

"But in terms of an imminent sale, it's an absolute no-start," Bailey added.

"However, a loan I see and maybe a return to the Bundesliga to regain his confidence. There is nowhere in the world where he is held in higher esteem than in Germany."

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