INEOS U-turn on 25-y/o: They want him off the books this summer after considering a contract extension

Manchester United are prepared to let Jadon Sancho leave for free at the end of the season when his contract ends.Previously, it had been reported that the Red Devils, despite having no intention of playing him, would activate the one-year option in Sancho’s deal in order to give them control over his future.Doing so would allow United to demand a transfer fee from any of his potential suitors, which you could understand, given the club shelled out £73 million for him back in 2021.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYUnited U-turn on Sancho extension amid substandard showings(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)However, his continued lacklustre showings have now deterred the hierarchy from doing so, as per Katherine Walsh.They have U-turned on the idea after seemingly conceding that it’s not worth the risk of no clubs buying him and, therefore, keeping the 25-year-old on the books for another season with his exorbitant £200,000-a-week wages. Appearances Goals Assists 83 12 6 *Sancho’s complete record for United (Transfermarkt)It says something that last season, Chelsea opted to pay a £5m penalty instead of taking up United on Sancho’s £25m buy option, having had him on loan throughout 2024/2025.He is spending the current campaign with Aston Villa, and has returned a measly one goal and one assist in 25 appearances thus far.Sancho yet to make an impact at Villa Park(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Villa are enjoying an emphatic Premier League season, too; they’re currently sat third-placed and just three points adrift of Manchester City in second – though Sancho has played little to no part in their tremendous run.Unai Emery has deployed Sancho from the off just six times in the league while utilising him nine times off the bench, with the forward yet to open his account in his 15 outings.It remains to be seen where he’ll look to ply his trade when he pulls the curtains on his United career – perhaps back in Germany, where he oversaw the most prolific form of his senior career with Borussia Dortmund.