£50m ace needs Manchester United move as manager warns he ‘won’t get any minutes’

£50m ace needs Manchester United move as manager warns he ‘won’t get any minutes’

Erik ten Hag has often been accused of being a little too brutal in his treatment of Manchester United misfit Jadon Sancho.

His crime? Demanding a little more from a winger who never really set Old Trafford turf alight with his performances.

Not once did Ten Hag say that Jadon Sancho was not part of his plans. Even following his return to Manchester United after a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund – even before leaving him out of the club’s opening two Premier League fixtures – the Old Trafford boss spoke only about the winger’s qualities.

Sancho is likely to bring an end to his miserable United career before Friday’s 11pm deadline.

Juventus remain keen, while Chelsea have explored a deal that could see Raheem Sterling move in the other direction.

And when listening to the way Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca discusses Sterling’s future, the criticism that came Ten Hag’s way when coming out publicly about Sancho’s poor performances on the training pitch feels all the more baffling.

Manchester United could send Jadon Sancho to Chelsea

There is no question about Sterling’s professionalism, on or off the pitch.

But, after stripping him of his number seven shirt, Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino replacement is keen to tell anyone who will listen that Sterling is just about the opposite of what he wants from a wideman.

“Raheem is a fantastic person, a fantastic guy. He trains very well. The only thing is, every manager has different ideas,” Maresca tells Football London. “I said in terms of the kind of winger, he is not one I like but it doesn’t mean nothing if he is not a good player.

“I think the history and numbers speak for Raheem.

“My advice… he knows exactly what he has to do. He doesn’t need my advice. I prefer to be honest with the player, with Raheem.”

The former Manchester City youth coach adds that, if no departure from Stamford Bridge presents itself over the next 24 hours or so, Sterling will find himself consigned to months on the sidelines, training apart from the rest of the Chelsea squad.

Raheem Sterling linked with shock Old Trafford switch

“The ones who are not involved, they are all players who are not going to be involved and they won’t get any minutes in case they stay,” adds Maresca, who has also removed Trevoh Chalobah and the similarly United-linked Ben Chilwell from contention.

“I don’t know what happens, when the window closes. We will see who is here and who is not here. The only thing I can say is the ones who are going to get minutes are the ones who I think can help us.”

“It’s not just Raheem. It’s all the players who in this moment are training apart. In the moment the transfer window closes, they are not going to get minutes. I’ve already been clear with them and honest and this is the only reason why.”

United in Focus have been told by reporter Graeme Bailey that Sterling has at least one keen admirer at Old Trafford.

Dan Ashworth, Manchester United’s newly-appointed sporting director, is a big fan of a player who, even during a difficult second season at Chelsea, still ended the campaign with 18 goals and assists to his name.