MANCHESTER UNITED are set to drastically change their protocol for contracts… with Jadon Sancho in danger of being the first player axed.
The Red Devils are expected to shake things up when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos complete a 25 per cent takeover at Old Trafford.
British billionaire Ratcliffe, 71, will assume control of football operations at the club.
This will see them become more open to terminating contracts in a bid to be a “culture-focused” club. This will mirror the approach taken by Arsenal in recent years.
The Gunners have severed ties with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe, rather than trying to recoup a transfer fee.
And Sancho, 23, who has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 82 games for Man Utd, could see his contract terminated as one of the first individuals cut by the new regime.
The English winger has not featured since August after a public spat with manager Erik ten Hag where the forward claimed he was being made a “scapegoat”. He has been linked with a return to Borussia Dortmund, as well as a switch to Saudi Arabia.
A move elsewhere could be facilitated by Man Utd ripping up his deal – which runs until 2026. Meanwhile, the club are also looking to stop handing out “unnecessary contract extensions”.
Man Utd have been guilty of providing players with new deals in a bid to preserve their value. It has resulted in them being unable to sell unwanted members of their squad due to high wage demands.
Clauses that state the option of an additional 12 months will also not be triggered unless deemed absolutely necessary. Man Utd hope this new approach will enable them to sell more effectively and subsequently improve their position when it comes to purchasing players.
But football director John Murtough recently revealed it is unlikely much business will be conducted in the upcoming January window. Speaking on a club fans forum, he said: “There will always be the possibility of deals around the edges of the squad, particularly in terms of finding opportunities for players who are not playing as much football as they would like.
“However, we’ve always been consistent in saying that we do not see January as the optimal time to do business and our recruitment strategy remains focused on summer windows.
“We’ve seen this season that financial fair play (FFP) rules have real teeth, so we have to be very careful to ensure that we remain compliant, and we will.
“But that means being really disciplined on spending going forward, with a balance between incomings and outgoings.”
