Jadon Sancho has “leverage” in his ongoing transfer saga with Manchester United, says Gary Neville.
The United legend also reckons the club is paying for past recruitment blunders. With Manuel Ugarte poised to be United’s fifth summer signing before Friday night’s deadline, the club is scrambling to ship out the sidelined Sancho.
Despite making amends with boss Erik ten Hag earlier in the summer, the 24-year-old isn’t in the gaffer’s season plans and was notably absent from the squads against Brighton and Fulham.
READ MORE: Jadon Sancho edging closer to Chelsea switch but Blues ‘must’ offload players
READ MORE: Transfer Deadline Day’s wildest moments – from lewd acts to inflatable bananas
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According to Sky Sports News, Sancho is now edging closet to a move that will take him to Chelsea on Transfer Deadline Day.
The drawn-out drama over Sancho’s future has ruffled feathers, but ex-United defender Neville has stressed that it’s not as easy as Sancho just nodding to a move elsewhere.
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(Image: Getty Images)
“I think every player has a point to prove but what we’re seeing here from Manchester United and Chelsea is basically they’re trying to clean up their poor recruitment from previous transfer windows and you’re trying to get players out,” Neville dished out to Sky Sports.
“And the players have leverage, they have strength, because they know they’re on massive money, big wages, time left on their contracts, and they’re not going to be shoved out of the door easily. The clubs are going to have to pay for the mistakes they’ve made. Players want compensation for that.
“Also [the players] have pride. They want to play at top-level clubs. They want to be competing. So it’s not going to be easy for those clubs. They’re going to have to support the player in going out.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Fans won’t like that. Maybe people in the industry won’t like that. But the reality is Manchester United chased Jadon Sancho for two years. It was a public chase as well. And obviously it’s not worked out in the last 15 months with Erik ten Hag.
“He needs to leave if he wants to play football. But it’s not as easy as that.”
As the Sancho saga continues, United’s recruitment strategy has been lauded for its focus on youth and sustainability. The signing of Leny Yoro was seen as a significant victory as United outbid fierce rivals for the defender’s signature, while the pursuit of Ugarte has garnered similar praise.
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Neville thinks that while Ten Hag can’t grumble about the summer’s business, it’s now the Dutchman’s job to ensure the pieces fit together effectively.
He thinks the Red Devils have done some decent business in the transfer market – but reckons his old side still need more to compete at the top. “It seems to have been smoother in the transfer window this summer,” Neville said.
“Bringing in players with price tags that are more reflective of what they should be paying whereas in the past, United have overpaid. They’ve looked desperate.
“I think the club have done their business right this summer. I don’t think [Ten Hag] can complain at all about it. But we now need to see performance levels rise and the team evolving into something that resembles a Champions League-based team, and then build from there.”