Ten Hag has decided the only option is to offload Sancho in January, but United are not prepared to take a massive hit on a player signed for £73million just two years ago from Borussia Dortmund. United want up to £50m for Sancho, who is still only 23 and ostensibly has the best years of his playing career ahead of him, but there may be few clubs willing to pay that asking price.

Juventus have contacted United over the possibility of a loan move for Sancho, but it is understood they were unwilling to pay the bulk of his £275,000-a-week wages or even a loan fee for him. United are acutely aware their desire to get rid of Sancho has impacted on his transfer market value, with clubs unwilling to pay over the odds for a player who is effectively being pushed out of the door.

Saudi Arabia is another potential destination for Sancho, if the England international cannot find in Europe an escape route from his current predicament at United. Al Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard, were interested in a loan deal for Sancho in the summer transfer window, but refused to commit to a £50m permanent move at the end of the season.

Sancho has refused to apologise to Ten Hag and end their personal feud, despite being urged to do so by senior figures at United and several of his team-mates at the club. The last time Sancho played for United was back on August 26, when he came on as a 60th-minute sub for Anthony Martial, in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford

 

Jadon Sancho last played for Manchester United in August ( Image: Greig Cowie/REX/Shutterstock)

“Strict lines is the point,” Ten Hag said in September. “It’s what the club asked me to do, because there was no good culture before last season. So to set some good standards and that is what I did.

“That is my job, to control the standards. It has never been when someone makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines. If staff, players or whoever, if there is a structure to cross lines you have to be strong, absolutely.

“It’s also with the generation, about team construction, the group dynamic and always about the team. That is above everything else, but within that everyone plays his role, there are different characters and you have to manage those characters.

“Sometimes you have setbacks in seasons, players are injured or unavailable for other reasons, so you construct a squad. The squad is very good and the players who are available and motivated to give a good performance.”