Man Utd news: Sad Jadon Sancho situation emerges as clear transfer plan comes to light

A look at Manchester United headlines as Jason Wilcox discusses the club’s recruitment plans and Jadon Sancho receives a clear message

Manchester United are in a confident mood after earning three consecutive Premier League wins. It is the club’s best run of league results since Ruben Amorim took charge last year, and the Red Devils will hope to extend their good form against Nottingham Forest this weekend.

After a slow start to the campaign, United lifted themselves to sixth in the table through their 4-2 victory over Brighton. Goals from Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and a Bryan Mbeumo brace contributed to the feel-good performance at Old Trafford.

The summer additions of Cunha and Mbeumo have helped bolster United’s frontline, while young forward Benjamin Sesko has also continued his development. Following the team’s string of positive results, United’s director of football Jason Wilcox has given an insight into the club’s future transfer strategy.

Meanwhile, United loanee Jadon Sancho has received a fresh verdict regarding his prospects at Aston Villa. Sancho is yet to make a league start during his third spell away from Old Trafford. Here, Mirror Football takes a closer look at some of the headlines surrounding United.

Jadon Sancho ‘sad’ situation

Jadon Sancho endured the unfortunate experience of being replaced after coming on as a first-half substitute during Aston Villa’s win over Manchester City on Sunday. The 25-year-old came under scrutiny following his 45-minute display, though Villa manager Unai Emery explained that the decision was made to help with Sancho’s fitness levels.

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The former Borussia Dortmund star was one of the most coveted players in European football when he completed his £73million transfer to United. He has since struggled to reach those same heights, but former Villa striker Emile Heskey believes there is still time for Sancho to prove his doubters wrong.

“It’s a tough time for the lad, but he’s only young. He’s only 25, so the reality is that he can get his career back on track, but he really needs to figure out what he wants from his career,” Heskey told 10bet Casino, as reported by Birmingham Live. “He needs to start knuckling down and playing regular, consistent football.

“We’ve seen little glimpses of it, but we aren’t seeing enough of it. Unless you play regularly, it’s hard to get that fitness up to where it needs to be.

“Jadon needs to get sharper and work hard, because technically he’s as good as anyone. He’s probably technically better than all the other Villa players, but everyone else is ahead of him because they are delivering on the pitch while he isn’t.

“That’s sad to see, given the heights he was at. He was flying at Dortmund, moved to United, was in the England team. Really at the top of the game, with the best platform. Now he’s down here, but the fascinating thing is he can still build himself back up.

“For example, I went from Liverpool, then four years without England football, I knew I could build myself back up. I knew I could get back in, and he can do that too. I played at the World Cup, and he’s at a similar age to do the same.”

Sancho’s contract at United is set to expire at the end of this season but the Red Devils have the option to extend his deal for a further year. The winger has made five appearances in all competitions for Villa so far this term, including two starts.

Jason Wilcox shares Man Utd transfer plan

Jason Wilcox has indicated the type of players Manchester United will target in future transfer windows. Wilcox, who was named the club’s director of football in June, gave his verdict on United’s summer business, which included a trio of forwards and new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and believes the Red Devils can continue to improve by recruiting with the right mentality to succeed at Old Trafford.

“We have got a clear plan. We know what we have got to do, we know the areas of the team that we have got to improve,” Wilcox told MUTV. “For us to get in the top four and consistently challenge for Champions League places, win Champions League, win Premier League, we have got to invest in the squad. We have got to buy the right players.

“The right players who are talented but also who can deal with the pressure, who can take the squad forward. It is not always about just signing elite talent, they have got to have the right character and be somebody who can bring something different to the team. We are really happy with where we are.

“We know we have got to improve and, you know, the players, they will never be satisfied, Ruben will never be happy, I will never be happy, it is just how we are built. We are always looking to improve. Anybody who works at Manchester United should be thinking the same and they do, with the standards we are driving every day.”

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