The sham reconciliation between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag earlier this summer was nothing more than a means to an end. The end, it appears, is nigh.
Sancho is expected to leave Manchester United ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline, with Juventus and Chelsea going toe-to-toe for his signature.
That two of European football’s biggest clubs want him is no shock - Sancho remains electrifying on his day.
When news emerged of his reintegration into the United squad following ‘clear the air’ talks with Ten Hag in July, there was a simple truth hidden between the lines.
This was never about Ten Hag letting bygones be bygones and restoring Sancho into his plans but rather a financial exercise designed to maintain the attacker’s value heading into the transfer window.
Jadon Sancho is expected to leave Manchester United ahead of Friday's transfer deadline
The sham reconciliation between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag earlier was a means to an end
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea and Juventus are interested in making a late move for Sancho
The fact Sancho hasn’t appeared in either of United’s two match-day squads so far is not a surprise.
Whether he ends up in Turin or west London remains to be seen. The attraction to returning to the capital is clear.
Sancho, born in south London, grew up a Chelsea supporter. Joe Shields, now Chelsea’s co-director of talent and recruitment, is the man credited with unearthing Sancho ahead of his move from Watford to Manchester City in 2015.
Equally, a move to Juventus would provide Sancho with an opportunity to escape the glare; a chance to work on his game and himself away from the unrelenting attention a player of his profile receives here in England.
If Sancho had his way he’d have signed for Borussia Dortmund permanently this summer.
He loves it there. They love him there. But - as ever in this industry - finances dictate and Dortmund simply don’t have the money.
That’s a shame. Sancho's happiest career memories have been spent in the Rhineland.
His first spell at Dortmund, as he blazed a trial towards becoming one of the most coveted young footballers on the planet, was unforgettable, scoring 50 goals in 137 games and earning his £73million move to Old Trafford.
Sancho would have returned to Borussia Dortmund if he got what he wanted
The English winger was back to his best when Dortmund played Paris Saint-Germain
His loan return to the Westfalenstadion last season ended in Sancho playing in his first Champions League final at Wembley.
Sancho’s displays in competition earned him rave reviews, particularly in the semi-final clashes against Paris Saint-Germain - a stark reminder of his brilliant talents.
But that’s in the past. Sancho needs a fresh start. He deserves a fresh start. Not even his biggest detractors at United would begrudge him that.
News of a compromise between Sancho and Ten Hag earlier this summer was a mere arrangement of convenience.
Did Ten Hag get the apology from Sancho that has obsessed over? It doesn’t appear so.
Has Sancho forgiven the Dutchman for what he views as a lack of support? Probably not.
It appears Ten Hag didn't get the apology he wanted, nor did Sancho forgive the Dutchman for what he felt was a lack of support
Indeed, you need only look at Sancho’s social media presence to grasp the strength of feeling.
The top of his Instagram profile is bursting with yellow and black; images of happier times during his six-month loan return to Dortmund last season.
He hasn’t posted on the main grid of his Instagram page since June 3 – the last entry being a poignant snap with former Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic following the heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid at Wembley – and there are no photos at all of his time at Manchester United on his Instagram profile.
Likewise, the profile snap on his X account remains one of him wearing a Borussia Dortmund jersey.
Needless to say, that has not gone unnoticed at Old Trafford.
So, with all that said, there is an acceptance at United that Sancho has to move on.
His pending departure will inevitably thrust back into the spotlight the tensions between Sancho and his manager.
It is nearly year since the pair’s broken relationship reached the point of no return, after Ten Hag said publicly that Sancho had been left out of a matchday squad to face Arsenal because he had not trained well during the week.
Sancho branded the claims ‘completely untrue’ on social media. Ten Hag immediately exiled Sancho from the first-team squad, forcing the winger to train with United’s academy as it emerged the only way back for the attacker would be through an apology.
Sancho felt disrespected and, to a point, bullied. Whatever your view on how Ten Hag has approached the situation, Sancho is a human being. He is a shy and introverted boy who felt he never received the support or protection of his manager. That’s truly sad.
The tough love approach may work with some players; indeed Sancho isn’t the first and only player to have found himself at loggerheads with the former Ajax boss.
But Sancho isn’t one to respond to tough love. It was Mail Sport who exclusively revealed that Ten Hag did not receive approval from Sancho to go public with the player’s struggles with mental health issues during a press conference in December 2022.
Sancho featured during pre-season but was nowhere to be found in United's opening two Premier League fixtures
At the time there were real concerns from the club’s HR team that Sancho had grounds to make a legal complaint, although the Dutchman believed he was being supportive in his comments.
Sancho is a popular member of the United squad, indeed certain players felt their relationship with the attacker was frowned upon by Ten Hag. One player became so suspicious that he felt his friendship with Sancho was detrimentally impacting ongoing talks over a contract extension.
By all accounts Ten Hag has shown little contrition over the way he has navigated his dealings with Sancho. That’s entirely his prerogative. The Dutchman saw a player bursting with talent, but also one he felt didn’t possess the right attitude to maximise his undoubted potential.
One of Ten Hag’s most frustrating issues with Sancho was his timekeeping, although those close to the player refute any notion that he has lazy tendencies. Indeed, coaches who have had a hand in moulding Sancho are often quick to speak of the player’s dedication.
One of Ten Hag's most frustrating issues with Sancho was the English keeper's timekeeping
The very fact Sancho, who is tee-total, threw himself into life in Germany to become a success in a foreign country provides a compelling argument against those who claim he lacks the necessary application to fulfil his ambitions.
Sancho was 17 at the time and that shouldn’t be underestimated. The resilience he showed in leaving his troubles at United behind in January to hit the ground running with Dortmund in the fashion he did paints an alternative picture to those who maintain Sancho is a problem child.
But ultimately, this isn’t about being right or wrong. Ten Hag will have his own perceptions of the unsightly saga, as has Sancho. They will both be right in their own eyes.
None of that is important here. What truly is at the heart of the matter is that Sancho enjoys playing football again. That is all he really wants.
Cherries chief to step down
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake is set to step down after being offered a new role with the club’s parent company Black Knight Football Group.
I understand Blake is likely to accept the position, which is based in Dubai and will see him relinquish day-to-day running of the Premier League side.
Mail Sport's chief football reporter and newest weekly columnist Sami Mokbel
Bournemouth has undergone a major restructuring behind the scenes since the arrival of American owner Bill Foley, though his Black Knights consortium, in December 2022.
Sporting director Richard Hughes left the club last season to take up a similar position at Liverpool and was replaced by Simon Francis.
Tiago Pinto was confirmed as the club’s first ever ‘president of football operations’ in May and, alongside Blake, has played a key role in this summer’s transfer window, during which Bournemouth have broken their incoming and outgoing transfer records by paying £40m to Porto for Evanilson and selling Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for £65m.
Pinto will now assume general day-to-day control of the club.
Blake, in the role as Black Knight Football Group CEO, will continue to have a responsibility for Bournemouth but his role will oversee Foley’s entire football portfolio that also includes Auckland FC, Hibernian and Lorient.
Chelsea rejected new Liverpool goalkeeper
Chelsea declined the opportunity to pursue a move for Liverpool’s new goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili earlier this summer.
The Reds completed the capture of the highly-rated Georgia shot-stopper on Tuesday in a deal worth £29million, before immediately loaning him back to Valencia.
Chelsea were offered the opportunity to enter the bidding for Marmadashvili, only to turn down the approach in a show of faith to current No 1 Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea declined the chance to pursue a move for new Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili earlier this summer
Red Devils' alternative to Ugarte
Manchester United explored a move for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jerry Schouten as a fall-back option for No 1 target Manuel Ugarte.
The Old Trafford side this week completed a £50m swoop for Ugarte from Paris Saint Germain, a player who was the club’s overwhelming first choice in their search for a new central midfielder.
But it is understood that Schouten, who starred for Holland in their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals earlier this summer, was among the options for United if they failed to get a deal for Ugarte over the line.
United head coach Erik ten Hag is understood to be an admirer of the 27-year-old and would have backed any move for Schouten if the Ugarte deal failed.
Teun Koopmeiners, who this week joined Juventus, was also admired by United. But Ugarte was always their primary target for a new defensive midfielder.
Manchester United considered an alternative option to Manuel Ugarte (pictured)
Arsenal explore late move for Coman
Arsenal have explored a swoop for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
Mikel Arteta wants to sign a forward as he looks to add greater competition in wide attacking areas. Coman, 28, could leave Bayern this week and has major interest from Saudi Arabia, in particular Al-Hilal.
But Coman’s situation has alerted the Gunners heading into the final hours of the window.
The cost of bringing Coman to the Emirates will be key towards any successful move, particularly given the lucrative wages on offer in the Middle East.
He currently earns in the region of £300,000-per-week at Bayern, with just under three years to run on his current deal. There are doubts over whether Arsenal would pay Coman the same level salary which may leave them at a disadvantage given the riches on offer in Saudi.
But Arsenal can offer Coman the platform to continue his peak years at the highest level, with the Gunners expected to challenge for the Premier League title again this season and go deep into the Champions League.
Arsenal have also been offered Raheem Sterling in recent days amid his well-documented situation at Chelsea.
It remains to be seen if the Gunners activate a move for Sterling during the closing hours of the window but the option is there.
Any deal for the Chelsea star would appear a tall order given the forward’s reported £325,000-per-week wages.
Arsenal are exploring a move for Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman ahead of the deadline
But if an agreement can be reached between Chelsea and Sterling over the money he is owed then Arsenal may yet decide to move.
Red Bull Leipzig have expressed an interest in Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg.
The German side are set to lose their star centre-back Mohamed Simikan and are interested in Van den Berg - brother of Sepp who joined Brentford from Liverpool last week - as a potential replacement. Middlesbrough will want to keep Van den Berg.
Eze at the heart of Nketiah move
Eberechi Eze was at the heart of Crystal Palace hijacking Nottingham Forest’s move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.
Nketiah looked on course for a move to City Ground only to be beaten to the punch by Palace this week.
The reasons behind Nketiah’s move to Forest falling through varies depending on who you speak to. Indications of a cancelled medical owing to Gabriel Jesus picking up a groin injury last week and talk of inflated fees have been mentioned to Mail Sport.
Eberechi Eze (right) played a role in Eddie Nketiah decision to choose Crystal Palace
But in the end it was Eze who pulled through for Palace. Eze and Nketiah have a close relationship off the field and the Eagles winger was key in Nketiah deciding to relaunch his career at Selhurst Park.
There was an element of regret behind the scenes at Arsenal that a deal to Forest could not be completed, given they had initially agreed a deal with the Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
But the opportunity to stay in London and play with Eze were among the reasons Nketiah chose Palace ahead of Forest.
Toney move could impact England prospects
Ivan Toney’s potential move to Saudi Arabia is expected to impact on his England chances.
The striker, who was part of England’s Euro 20204 squad, has major interest from Saudi Arabia - primarily from Al-Ahli.
Ivan Toney could hurt his own England chances if he makes a switch to Saudi Arabia
There has been varying degrees of interest from Premier League sides - Chelsea and Manchester United both making recent checks on the conditions of signing Toney.
And any move to Saudi ahead of tomorrow’s deadline will throw Toney’s international hopes into uncertainty with an acknowledgement that playing in the Middle East, in what is recognised as an inferior league, would create a problem in his continued selection.
Charlton in line for hefty cash windfall
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez’s potential move away from Anfield this week would financially benefit League One side Charlton.
The Addicks included a sell-on clause on in the deal that saw the England man leave the Valley in 2015, in a deal worth an initial £3.5m.
Gomez has been linked with a transfer away from Anfield this week and Charlton are in line for a hefty cash windfall, given the defender’s £40m reported price tag. Thrifty Charlton have already benefitted financially from negotiating similar clauses for a host of their former players, including Nick Pope and Jonjo Shelvey.
Charlton could benefit financially if Joe Gomez leaves Liverpool before the deadline
Andersen receives salary bump
Fulham defender Joachim Andersen got a major salary bump when he rejoined the club from Crystal Palace this week in a deal worth £30million.
It is understood the Denmark star saw his wages rise from around £70,000-per-week to £120,000-per-week at Craven Cottage. Andersen changed agents by joining Dutch firm SEG earlier this summer, perhaps a clue towards the player’s intentions.
Palace injury woes scupper Guehi deal
Newcastle’s move for Marc Guehi is on the rocks amid concerns Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad will miss two months with a knee injury.
The two clubs have been locked in talks for weeks over a proposed move north for England international Guehi.
Well-placed sources have indicated that Palace were ready to accept a fifth proposal of £65million plus £5m in add-ons at the start of the week following positive discussions.
But an injury suffered by Riad in the Carabao Cup tie versus Norwich on Tuesday has emerged as a factor in the deal potentially collapsing in the final hours of the window.
The initial concern is that Riad, who saw a specialist in London, has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury which could require a minimum of six to eight weeks on the sidelines, though the full diagnosis is unconfirmed.
Newcastle’s move for Marc Guehi is on the rocks and now looks unlikely to happen
Since the injury, Newcastle’s move for Guehi has hit the skids with insiders claiming Palace are now asking for a deal worth £65milllion plus £10million in add-ons - taking the full total to £75m.
Newcastle are aware of the issues around Riad’s injury and how it may have a knock-on effect on their swoop for Guehi, who is Eddie Howe’s No 1 transfer target.
England's World Cup wait
England may not start their World Cup qualifying campaign until September 2025 - less than 12 months before the tournament begins.
European qualification matches for USA 2026 are scheduled to begin in March, but the national team’s potential involvement in a Nations League play-off could delay the start England’s campaign.
The play off matches will take place during the March international window, when England may have been due to play World Cup games.
Depending on the size and structure of England’s World Cup qualifying group, the national side could begin their campaign in the June international window.