Manchester United’s transfer plans have emerged as a verdict has been given on the “sad” situation Jadon Sancho finds himself in as the Premier League giants look to avoid past mistakes
Jake Bayliss Sport Writer – U35s and Neil Docking
06:41, 31 Oct 2025
Jadon Sancho failed to impress at Manchester United but is still on the club’s books(Image: PA)
Manchester United are riding on a wave of confidence after securing three consecutive Premier League victories.
This is the club’s best run of league results since Ruben Amorim took the reins last year, and the Red Devils will be looking to continue their winning streak against Nottingham Forest this weekend. After a sluggish start to the season, United climbed to sixth in the table following their 4-2 triumph over Brighton. Goals from Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and a double from Bryan Mbeumo contributed to the jubilant performance at Old Trafford.
The summer signings of Cunha and Mbeumo have strengthened United’s attack, while young forward Benjamin Sesko has also continued his progression. In light of the team’s recent positive results, United’s director of football Jason Wilcox has shed some light on the club’s future transfer plans.
In other news, United loanee Jadon Sancho has received a new assessment regarding his prospects at Aston Villa. Sancho has yet to make a league start during his third stint away from Old Trafford. Here’s all the latest United news.
Jadon Sancho’s ‘sad’ situation
Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho had the unfortunate experience of being substituted after coming on as a first-half replacement during Aston Villa’s victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
The 25-year-old faced criticism following his 45-minute performance, although Villa manager Unai Emery clarified that the decision was made to aid Sancho’s fitness levels, reports the Mirror.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund sensation was one of the most sought-after players in European football when he made his £73million move to United. However, he has struggled to replicate his previous form, but former Villa striker Emile Heskey believes Sancho still has time to silence his critics.
“It’s a tough time for the lad, but he’s only young. He’s only 25, so the reality is that he can get his career back on track, but he really needs to figure out what he wants from his career,” Heskey shared with 10bet Casino. “He needs to start knuckling down and playing regular, consistent football.
Don’t miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that’s it, job done. You’ll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
“We’ve seen little glimpses of it, but we aren’t seeing enough of it. Unless you play regularly, it’s hard to get that fitness up to where it needs to be.
“Jadon needs to get sharper and work hard, because technically he’s as good as anyone. He’s probably technically better than all the other Villa players, but everyone else is ahead of him because they are delivering on the pitch while he isn’t.
“That’s sad to see, given the heights he was at. He was flying at Dortmund, moved to United, was in the England team. Really at the top of the game, with the best platform. Now he’s down here, but the fascinating thing is he can still build himself back up.
“For example, I went from Liverpool, then four years without England football, I knew I could build myself back up. I knew I could get back in, and he can do that too. I played at the World Cup, and he’s at a similar age to do the same.”
Sancho’s deal at United runs until the end of this campaign, though the Red Devils hold an option to extend his contract by another year. The winger has featured five times across all competitions for Villa this term, including a pair of starts.
Jason Wilcox reveals transfer strategy
Jason Wilcox and Sir Jim Ratcliffe(Image: ( Michael Regan/Getty Images))
Jason Wilcox has outlined the calibre of players United will pursue in upcoming transfer windows.
Wilcox, who was appointed as the club’s director of football in June, assessed United’s summer recruitment, which brought in three forwards plus new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and believes the Red Devils can keep progressing by signing players with the proper attitude to thrive at Old Trafford.
“We have got a clear plan. We know what we have got to do, we know the areas of the team that we have got to improve,” Wilcox told MUTV.
“For us to get in the top four and consistently challenge for Champions League places, win Champions League, win Premier League, we have got to invest in the squad. We have got to buy the right players.
“The right players who are talented but also who can deal with the pressure, who can take the squad forward. It is not always about just signing elite talent, they have got to have the right character and be somebody who can bring something different to the team. We are really happy with where we are.
“We know we have got to improve and, you know, the players, they will never be satisfied, Ruben will never be happy, I will never be happy, it is just how we are built.
“We are always looking to improve. Anybody who works at Manchester United should be thinking the same and they do, with the standards we are driving every day.”
