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Jadon Sancho will NOT return to Manchester United before the end of the season, Confidential can reveal - because his loan deal at Aston Villa does not have a break clause in January.
The 25-year-old winger has yet to start a Premier League game since leaving Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ to join Villa in the summer, and found himself subbed on and off in the weekend win over Manchester City.
Sancho has only played a total of 53 minutes in the Premier League for Villa, who agreed to cover 80 per cent of his £250,000-a-week wages.
Given his limited opportunities, it has raised the question of whether he could wind up back at Old Trafford. United may actually need a right-sided replacement when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui go to the Africa Cup of Nations for up to a month in December and January.
But the lack of a break clause means Sancho will stay at Villa Park until his United contract runs out in the summer - though the club have an option to extend his deal by another 12 months, to avoid losing him for nothing next June.
The winger revitalised his career on loan at Borussia Dortmund in January 2024, and that paved the way for him to join Chelsea last season with an obligation to buy him for up to £25million. As revealed by this column though, the deal included a penalty clause if Chelsea didn’t go through with the deal and they ended up paying United £5m to send Sancho back.
Jadon Sancho has yet to start a Premier League game for Aston Villa this season and was even subbed off after being subbed on against Manchester City on Sunday
But the lack of a break clause in his loan deal means Sancho will stay at Villa Park until his United contract is due to run out in the summer
It’s early days at Villa and there is hope he can enjoy a similar bounce in the Midlands as he did at Dortmund. Although much was made of his on-off substitution against City, Villa boss Unai Emery insisted later it was always ‘part of the plan’.
’Yes, of course, this is my objective, to get him back to his best - and if he does that, then he'll come back to the national team,’ Emery said of Sancho.
‘Of course, he's still young. He's still hungry to show his capacity to play with his skills, his qualities, and hopefully we can exploit here, again, his best.’
San Siro moves ahead of OT
It's an indication that the work on a £2billion rebuild of Old Trafford won’t be starting anytime soon that the team officially mandated to oversee United's new stadium district project are now busy designing the new San Siro.
United told the latest fans’ forum meeting earlier this month that ‘constructive discussions’ have taken place with Freightliner over acquiring the extra land behind Old Trafford that is critical to Lord Foster’s tent design, and ‘are optimistic about reaching mutually agreeable terms in the coming months’. But the club still need to secure private funding for the stadium project, and Government support for the wider regeneration of Old Trafford.
They hope to move into the stadium in time for the 2030-31 season, but there has been no further update on United’s commitment to begin the ‘process’ of appointing an architect, with Foster + Partners only officially mandated to oversee the project.
The small stadium team at Fosters have got their work cut out in Italy, where they have been given the all-clear to build a new 71,500-seater San Siro after AC Milan and Inter reached an agreement with the city council earlier this month to buy their iconic home and knock it down.
Confidential understands that Fosters were in discussions with Birmingham City at one point about their new 62,000-capacity home, but it was felt their priorities were too focused elsewhere.
United told the latest fans’ forum meeting this month that ‘constructive discussions’ have taken place over acquiring the extra land that is critical to Lord Foster’s tent design
The small stadium team at Fosters have also been given the all-clear to build a new 71,500-seater San Siro, with the current one being knocked down
Flags get player approval
United fans inside Old Trafford and watching on TV will have noticed the increased number of flags adorning the Stretford End this season. The display is organised and funded by The Red Army group and has been supported by the club.
Confidential understands it has also been well received by the players, who are appreciative of the effort that has gone into it. United themselves are also thought to be delighted with the way it looks and how it has helped to improve the atmosphere.
United, who amended the rules to allow flags with poles to be held up inside the stadium, have agreed to expand the area in which the flags are displayed following the first few home games of the season.
Ole is Rashy’s No 1
He burst onto the scene under Louis van Gaal and has played under every United manager since, but Marcus Rashford has singled out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his favourite.
Although Rashford enjoyed his most productive season under Erik ten Hag when he scored 30 goals in the 2022-23 campaign, his relationship with the Dutchman soured towards the end and he soon fell out with Ruben Amorim.
Having joined Barcelona on loan for this season, Rashford’s assist in Sunday’s El Clasico defeat by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu means he has contributed to 10 goals for the Catalans already.
Speaking to TV2 before the game, Rashford picked Solskjaer as his favourite United boss, saying: ‘Ole is a fantastic person. I loved playing under him. I can speak for many of the players at Manchester United when I say that we enjoyed playing for him.
‘We played good football under Ole. It was a very successful period for me personally. He is a fantastic person, and I don’t have a bad word to say about him.’
Marcus Rashford has singled out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his favourite United manager
Harry happy at Wednesday
Most of the headlines around Sheffield Wednesday these days surround administration and the 12-point deduction served to them by the EFL.
But with fans returning to the ground, money going back into the club shop and smiles returning back to faces, it’s worth pointing out just how much Harry Amass is enjoying himself.
The 18-year-old broke through into the United first team under Amorim last season. It was determined a competitive loan in the Championship was the next step of his development and he went out to Sheffield Wednesday.
Since making his debut against Bristol City, where he got 68 minutes, Amass has played every minute thereafter.
‘He’s absolutely loving life,’ a source told Confidential. ‘He’s struck up a close connection with (captain) Barry Bannan and he feels a big part of the team. He’s loving it.’
Amass and Radek Vitek, impressing in goal for Bristol City, are more than holding their own in the second tier as their value increases. Maybe United’s academy isn’t so bad after all, Sir Jim…
Harry Amass has been a shining light on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season
Overy’s a rising star
A lot was made in the past week of 15-year-old JJ Gabriel being drafted into a first-team training session, but it’s worth shining a light on another young player who is going a bit more under the radar, in 17-year-old James Overy.
The Australian, who has recently returned to Carrington from the Under-20 World Cup, was called up on three occasions by Amorim’s staff to join in with senior training last week.
It’s a sign of just how much of an impression has been made on the coaches by Overy, who was the youngest squad member that went with Australia to the World Cup.
Now, as he settles back into life at United, the promising right back is looking to kick on and win his first start for the Under 21s, who have only given him two cameos at the beginning of their so-far invincible season. ‘He’s got one hell of a future ahead of him,’ said a source.
Australian full back James Overy, 17, is making a huge impression at United
Under 21s full backs on fire
Speaking of full backs, Confidential was in attendance to see Diego Leon produce his best performance in a United shirt in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Under 21s.
We wrote in this column how much Leon struggled only a few weeks ago at Liverpool in his first appearance for United's academy, eventually being hooked at half-time. But this time there was much more purpose to his play and a physicality that made it easy to see why United have rolled the dice on him.
This was a hugely positive display that included a stunning solo goal which saw Leon start in his own half before sliding in inside the area.
On the other side of United’s defence, it has been really promising to see Yuel Helafu make back-to-back Under 21s starts in the past week. The 17-year-old was handed a debut at Barnsley and then kept his place against Spurs.
Helafu has been involved in multiple first-team sessions already this season, and his rapid rise has caught some United staff off guard. Positionally he still has work to do, but United are hopeful they have a full back diamond in the rough.
Diego Leon put in his best performance in a United shirt on Saturday, scoring in a 4-1 thumping of Tottenham's Under 21s
It has been really promising to see Yuel Helafu make back-to-back Under 21s starts in the past week. The 17-year-old was handed a debut at Barnsley and then kept his place against Spurs
Van der Gaag’s a goner
Life after United has been a challenge for Ten Hag and his former No 2 Mitchell van der Gaag. Ten Hag lasted three games at Bayer Leverkusen, and Van der Gaag has been sacked by FC Zurich after five months in charge.
Both managers are said to have encountered some dressing-room resistance, but Confidential understands Van der Gaag had the support of the majority of his players and made reference to their goodwill in his farewell address.
‘To the playing squad – thank you for your continued efforts, your attitude and your commitment every single day,’ wrote the Dutchman. ‘The number of heartfelt messages I received from you after the announcement touched me deeply. It reminded me that we were truly on the right path together.’
Tributes to kit man Jon
The women’s team players returned from international duty with their match-worn shirts, to auction off in a bid to raise money for the family of their former kit man Jon Humble, who tragically died last week at the age of 44 after a short illness.
Jon was part of the kit staff at United for six years, working with the academy and the women’s team, before joining Liverpool in the summer.
Canada defender Jayde Riviere paid tribute on social media, writing: ‘You were more than just a kit man to us. You were the glue of the team.
'You put up with all our requests, remembered all the little details and most of all, you were the loveliest human being.’
The Under 21s paid tribute to former kit man Jon Humble on Saturday before their game against Tottenham
Keating cooking up a storm
Niall Keating, the UK’s youngest chef to earn two Michelin stars, designed a special menu for diners at Old Trafford for Saturday’s game against Brighton as part of a guest chef series that will run for the rest of the season.
Keating is based at Tender, the fine-dining restaurant within Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel co-owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.
His signature starter, main and dessert were served at the Heritage Club, Gallery, Treble Suite, 1878 and Sir Alex Ferguson Stand Level 3 boxes at the Brighton game.
Keating, who is working closely with United’s executive chef Darren Hamilton, said: ‘Old Trafford is the world’s most iconic venue, and I’m honoured to play a part in reimagining its culinary experience.’
