Rio Ferdinand calls for ‘clarity’ on Jadon Sancho’s future at Man United, saying they need a winger

Rio Ferdinand wants ‘clarity’ over Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United, with the England winger being left out of Erik ten Hag’s plans since October.

Sancho, 22, was left out of England’s World Cup squad, and has not featured for the Red Devils since their Premier League draw with Chelsea, a month before the global showpiece event.

And speaking to his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, former United and England defender Ferdinand said he wanted the situation around Sancho’s future to be cleared up, with the player missing out on Man United’s mid-season training camp in Spain to improve his fitness on his own accord. 

Rio Ferdinand wants ‘clarity’ on Sancho’s future with the club after missing a training camp

Ferdinand, 44, said: ‘Jadon Sancho is an interesting one. He’s gone away and he’s doing personal training somewhere. I don’t know what’s happened or what’s behind all this. I don’t know what it is. Is he not fit or is it mental? What are they seeing at United? It would be nice to get that clarity. 

‘Listen, Jadon Sancho is a south London boy so I care about him and want him to do well. But he hasn’t hit the ground running at Manchester United, for whatever reason. I don’t know why.’

Sancho joined Man United in the summer of 2021, after four successful years in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. 

Sancho joined in the summer of 2021, but has not shown his previous Borussia Dortmund form

Sancho registered just five goals and three assists during his debut season at Old Trafford in 2021-22, before the problems getting into the side under ten Hag in the current campaign.

Ferdinand said: ‘United actually need him right now, they need another player because the depth on the bench isn’t great. Sancho would add to that but he needs to come back and be the Sancho we saw at Dortmund, the Sancho that got people off their seats. 

‘I watched an old video of Sancho the other day and he was tearing it up against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. That’s the Sancho I expected to see at United. I wanted him to come to the Theatre of Dreams and say: ‘This is my home, I’m going to own this place’. 

Erik ten Hag has left Sancho out of the team since October, as the winger works on his fitness

‘We just haven’t seen that yet and it’s actually grating on me as to why. I need to know why.’

On January 2, Sancho was pictured arriving at Carrington, after a spell working on his physical and mental wellbeing in Holland.  

With the transfer window open, Sancho could look to go elsewhere if he is surplus to Man United’s plans, or else he could try to regain his place with ten Hag’s squad, who play Bournemouth in the Premier League and Everton in the FA Cup in the coming week.