Football
Jadon Sancho: Manchester United forward returns to first-team training after holding positive talks with Erik ten Hag
Jadon Sancho has now resumed training as part of the Manchester United squad but he will not travel to Norway for the friendly against Rosenberg on Monday having resumed training a few days later than others
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag held a positive meeting with Jadon Sancho at Carrington this week with the player returning to first-team training.
During the conversations, the pair reflected on past issues, and both agreed to draw a line and move on.
Sancho has now resumed training as part of the squad but he will not travel to Norway for the friendly against Rosenberg on Monday having resumed training a few days later than other players.
However, he will be available for selection after that and the focus is now on Sancho taking a full part in pre-season.
Juventus have previously expressed an interest in signing the winger this summer. It was thought they would have to sell players first to have a chance of meeting Man Utd’s £40m valuation.
Borussia Dortmund would also like to sign him after his successful loan spell at the backend of last season, where he was a part of the side that reached the Champions League final.
But there was a substantial gap between what Man Utd want and what Dortmund can afford. Sancho has entered the final two years of his contract.
Analysis: Reintegration represents incredible U-turn
Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth:
“This represents a massive U-turn because we expected Sancho to be sold in this transfer window. We’re told that Sancho reflected on some of the issues that he has had in the past with Ten Hag and with the club. Both have agreed to draw a line under everything and move on.
“The reason he has arrived later than some of the others is because he was involved in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.
“But once he is up to speed, he is expected to be part of the club’s plans moving forward which is incredible given everything that’s happened over the past nine months or so.
“Last September, Sancho wasn’t part of the squad that lost at Arsenal. Ten Hag was asked why he wasn’t involved and he said it was because he hadn’t trained at the required level. Sancho didn’t take that lying down and he took to social media to accuse Ten Hag of lying and from then on, there was a complete breakdown in their relationship.
“It happened just after the close of the summer transfer window so the timing was awful. He was exiled from any first-team activity and he was then allowed to go on loan to Borussia Dortmund in January, where he had a really successful loan spell.
“It looks like Ten Hag and Sancho have made up, and he is back in the fold.”
Man Utd working on three centre-back deals as they close on Zirkzee
Manchester United are working simultaneously on three centre-back deals.
This comes as United close in on the first signing of the INEOS era after a deal was agreed for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee.
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt remains a strong option at centre-back and the 24-year-old is keen to join, with talks having been positive with the Bundesliga side.
De Ligt played under Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax where they won the Eredivisie in 2019.
When does the summer transfer window open and close?
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership is officially open.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.