Dean Jones, a journalist, claims that Jadon Sancho’s “favourite” position for Manchester United is not playing behind the striker in a central role.

Erik Ten Hag envisions Jadon Sancho playing anywhere.

In preseason, Erik Ten Hag used Sancho as a false nine, and the £350k-per-week star recently performed admirably in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the United States, scoring in the process, according to Sky Sports.

According to METRO, the Dutchman stated that Sancho is performing well in that position when asked where he thinks he can contribute most to Manchester United. Jadon, in my opinion, performs best in key roles where he can participate. Additionally, when he plays in broad areas, but you know when you’re playing with me in wide areas in the proper setting, you also have the freedom – in the proper setting, so get me right! – to be inside, in No. 10 positions, in centre places.”

Since moving to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for a sum of £73 million, Sancho has occasionally played up to expectations, according to Transfermarkt, scoring 12 goals and dishing out six assists in 79 appearances across all competitions.

Sancho, who is currently at a career crossroads, appears to have gained Ten Hag’s trust despite being the subject of a rejected loan offer from his old club Borussia Dortmund earlier this year, according to The Daily Star.

Ten Hag, according to the Manchester Evening News, is “trying him as a false nine with a view to possibly playing him there when the season starts” and sees his ability to go into deeper areas and carry the ball as a viable attacking outlet.

Journalist Jones believes that Sancho is more suited to playing on the flanks because his skillset is more effective there, according to Football FanCast.

According to Jones, not many people anticipated Sancho to be playing the false nine position at this point in his career. Personally, I don’t think it’s the place I had in mind for him because my favourite Sancho is the one that goes after opponents, confronts them, and defeats them while using cunning tactics. Ten Hag is doing something different because he hasn’t demonstrated that in a while.

What will Manchester United do next?

Following the high-profile arrivals of Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Jonny Evans, who has signed on a short-term deal at Old Trafford, Manchester United will seek to continue their remarkable summer recruitment, according to Transfermarkt.

The Red Devils, who supposedly have formal offers set up for Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, are purportedly planning a double raid of Serie A as their next priority, according to CaughtOffside.

However, given that Hojlund is currently in the “here we go” condition from Romano, it seems as though only Amrabat is still a goal.

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Manchester United should take a stride towards finishing their transfer business in the coming weeks before the start of the new Premier League season.