Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag extends olive branch to Jadon Sancho after Dortmund masterclass

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has left the door open for Jadon Sancho to return to Old Trafford this summer. The winger, who fell out with Ten Hag at the beginning of the season, dazzled for Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

Sancho was banished from United’s first team and forced to train alone following a public spat with Ten Hag, in which he complained about being made a ‘scapegoat’ after being left out of the matchday squad against Arsenal in September.

Reports indicated that an apology was all Ten Hag wanted from Sancho before integrating him back into the senior side, but the player refused and ultimately fled to his former club Dortmund on loan in the January transfer window.

After two-and-a-half disappointing seasons at Old Trafford, Sancho is now showing flashes of the form which convinced United to part with £73million back in 2021. Perhaps his best performance since returning to BVB came on Wednesday night, as he tormented PSG left-back Nuno Mendes in a vital 1-0 victory.

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Having watched the game, Ten Hag insisted he is ‘happy’ for Sancho and stopped short of committing to the permanent summer sale which many view as inevitable. “So let’s say this: yesterday he played very good and he’s a very good player,” said the Dutchman.

“Yesterday he showed why Manchester United bought him and he showed he represents a high value for Manchester United, which is good. I’m happy for Jadon, for the performance yesterday and we’ll see what is going to happen in the future.”

Dortmund and Sancho will play in a Champions League final if they draw or win in the second leg against PSG next week. United, meanwhile, are scrambling to qualify for the Europa League as they stumble to the end of a disappointing second season under Ten Hag’s leadership.

Aside from speculation involving the future of Ten Hag himself, various incomings and outgoings are expected to streamline the squad during Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first summer transfer window in the boardroom.

But Ten Hag has rubbished reports that United will consider offers for virtually every player apart from Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund. “It’s a joke,” he stated.

“As long as I’ve worked, every summer, every window, 200 players are getting intrerest from Manchester United, we did some research and also every summer we sell all of the players in our squad, which you make all of the headlines and that takes responsibility how you make such a headline. Find a good source if there is some truth in it.”