Jadon Sancho has endured a torrid term with Manchester United since his arrival in 2021, but his nightmarish era at Old Trafford could draw to a close this summer

Borussia Dortmund are keen on signing Manchester United flop Jadon Sancho for a third time, club chief Lars Ricken has confirmed. The English winger, who cost £73m when he joined in 2021, has endured a torrid spell at Old Trafford.

He has managed just 12 goals in 83 appearances for United and has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons away on loan. Sancho spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign at Dortmund, before moving to Chelsea last season.

Chelsea had been obligated to make that deal permanent but paid a penalty fee to withdraw from that agreement. Sancho has since been at Aston Villa but has found the net just once during his time in the Midlands.

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With his contract set to expire this summer, and United opting against activating an option to extend it by a further season, he looks all but set to depart the club. Dortmund managing director Ricken has now revealed that Sancho is among several potential targets for the German outfit.

Speaking to Sport Bild, he said: “We are currently looking at a lot of players and analysing them. We check whether they can make us better.

“We are doing the same with Jadon. Of course, we are looking for an offensive player who brings quality, can help us immediately, and doesn’t require an unrealistic transfer fee.

“In defence, Niklas Süle is leaving us, and Emre Can will be out for a while. So we are thinking about that area as well.”

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Sancho has endured a difficult campaign with Villa, having made just 17 starts across all competitions. His sole goal came in a 1-0 away victory against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

However, speaking earlier this year, manager Unai Emery appeared to indicate he would be receptive to making the move permanent. He said: “Not yet, but he is a fantastic player.

“Hopefully he can help us by increasing his qualities in our structure like he is doing. He will need another contract, and maybe it could be here.

“If he plays his best football, we will want him. But also other teams could be involved in the interest for him.”

Reflecting on Sancho’s performances for Villa, Emery added: “The first part of the season was not enough. He was working and trying, but not achieving the performance we needed.

“Now he is getting better. He is getting the challenge for him and us.”

Manchester United still have some time before they are back in action due to their early exit from the FA Cup

Manchester United are set for an extended break as the international hiatus concludes. Michael Carrick’s team won’t be participating in FA Cup action this weekend.

United’s last match was on March 20, when they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Bournemouth. The club’s next fixture is scheduled for April 13, when they will host Leeds United.

Players will gradually return after representing their nations during the break, a period which saw Marcus Rashford rejoin the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. The 28-year-old started the opening friendly against Uruguay and made a substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat to Japan.

Rashford may now have the chance to clock up vital playing time at Barcelona over the weekend, but manager Hansi Flick has issued him a significant message. The Manchester Evening News brings you the latest from Old Trafford.

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Marcus Rashford receives manager’s caution

Rashford moved to Barcelona on an initial loan agreement last summer and has flourished under head coach Flick. His future remains somewhat uncertain, with a £26million purchase option reportedly still in play.

However, he has found himself consigned to the bench in recent months following Raphinha’s return from injury. But with the Brazilian suffering another setback, Rashford could seize the opportunity.

Addressing this ahead of their clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, Flick does acknowledge he has several options to replace Raphinha, however.

He said: “It’s an injury, and that’s part of football. We have to accept it. It hasn’t come at the best time, which saddens us, and now we’ll have to see how we manage it.

“I’m happy with Marcus. He’s performing well. He’s had some physical problems in recent weeks, but now’s an opportunity for him. We also have other options like Fermin [Lopez] or Gavi, who’s playing at a very high level. We’ll see what we decide, because we have several choices.”

Morgan Rogers makes transfer decision

One of Rashford’s international colleagues, Morgan Rogers, could be set for a move this summer. The Sun report that Rogers is willing to depart Aston Villa in the forthcoming window amid interest from several top-flight clubs.

United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all understood to be interested parties and the report claims Rogers has determined he wants to join a side that can regularly compete for silverware.

Villa will reportedly not obstruct the player should he desire to leave and would demand at least £80m for Rogers, whom they acquired for an initial £8m from Middlesbrough.

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Manchester United are currently third in the Premier League and look to be battling Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa for a top five finish and Champions League qualification

16:37, 27 Mar 2026

Manchester United have tasted defeat just once since appointing Michael Carrick as boss and the reniassance has the Reds third in the Premier League table and in pole position to secure Champions League football next season.

Arsenal and Manchester City look set to fill the top two places with the Gunners currently nine clear having played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s side. Behind them, United lead the chasing pack with a host of clubs still having eyes on the Champions League next season.

The top four will guarantee a place at Europe’s top table and fifth will almost certainly be enough as one of the extra UEFA co-efficient places. It means United, Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea could be scrapping for three spots while Brentford, Fulham and Brighton won’t have given up hopes of gatecrashing the top five with all three within five points of Liverpool in fifth. We ask our United writers for their verdict on how the run-in will pan out.

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Tyrone Marshall

Despite Arsenal’s dreadful performance in the Carabao Cup final, I still think they will fall over the line and be crowned champions. Fitting champions for a season that hasn’t exactly been memorable and I won’t remember anything from this Arsenal team.

Manchester City still have a rick in them and I just don’t think they will win enough games to put the pressure on the Gunners, but they will coast into second.

I have United finishing third. They are in the best form of the sides challenging for the top six and also a schedule that allows them plenty of rest. They have enough going for them to think they will continue as they have been under Carrick and get the job done for third.

The real storyline is what happens in fourth and fifth. I’ve long had Aston Villa bookmarked for sixth. They have relied on fortune a fair bit this season, especially with goals from distance, have tailed off at the wrong time and now have to factor in a Europa League run that could take them all the way.

But their win last weekend stabilised their form and there are just so many questions around Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool have been unconvincing for so long, but do seem capable of picking up wins here and there.

Chelsea feel like the crisis club now. You get the impression the players just aren’t having Liam Rosenior, and who can blame them, frankly. I’m going to go Liverpool in fourth, Villa in fifth, and Chelsea to just hang on to sixth.

Steven Railston

Not a groundbreaking prediction: Arsenal will be Premier League champions and City will finish as runners-up. What is more interesting is how the remaining European places will be filled.

Carrick’s impact at Old Trafford has been impressive and I have United down to finish third, with some reasonably looking fixtures still left to play. It’s going to be close between Liverpool and Aston Villa for fourth, but the latter bottled the Champions League on the last day of last season, and I could see them doing it again.

Many have questioned the timing of Salah’s announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, however, it’s the kind of news that could spur their dressing room on to give him a positive send-off.

Rosenior’s time at Chelsea is already threatening to turn sour and I have them down to finish sixth. Rosenior talks as if he should be in an episode of The Office, not a top Premier League job.

Jack Flintham

I am not convinced the title race is all wrapped up yet. Arsenal’s defeat to City in the Carabao Cup final has ramped up the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side and the gap will close to three points if the Blues win their game in hand and beat the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium.

If that happens, the race is well and truly on. At the moment, I still think Arsenal will pip City to the title as there are still too many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ before the Blues close the substantial gap.

United should finish third comfortably. Carrick deserves plenty of recognition for the job he has done and with Liverpool and Aston Villa contesting in Europe, the Reds should capitalise.

Speaking of their nearest challengers, I think Liverpool will put up a challenge but Villa should hold onto fourth. I have not seen enough from Arne Slot’s side to suggest they can be consistent enough to close the gap, even if Villa offer up opportunities. That being said, they will finish fifth and still probably secure Champions League football.

My wildcard pick would be for Everton to finish sixth. Things are turning sour at Chelsea and after being thumped on Merseyside before the international break, I can’t see them holding onto sixth.

David Moyes’ side must rectify their home form but if they can replicate the Chelsea performance against Liverpool, that momentum will see them through to an impressive finish.

Manchester United face two of their top-four rivals in the next five Premier League matches as the battle to secure a place in the Champions League intensifies

Manchester United strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League return after sweeping aside top-four rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Casemiro gave the Reds the lead just after half-time but Villa responded to equalise through Ross Barkley. However, Michael Carrick’s side showed character to go back in front as Matheus Cunha found the net before Benjamin Sesko gave United a two-goal advantage late on to seal a crucial three points.

The result has kept United in third, three points above fourth-place Aston Villa and Liverpool in fifth, and six points ahead of Chelsea in sixth. As England are expected to have an additional spot in the Champions League for next season, United need a maximum of 18 points from their remaining eight matches to secure a top five finish.

And a win against Bournemouth on Friday would give them a nine-point buffer above sixth place heading into the rest of next weekend’s Premier League fixtures. And with that in mind, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at United’s next five top-flight matches compared to their rivals in the race for the Champions League…

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Manchester United next five fixtures

Bournemouth (A) – March 20, 8pm kick-off

Leeds (H) – April 13, 8pm kick-off

Chelsea (A) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brentford (H) – April 27, 8pm kick-off

Liverpool (H) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Aston Villa next five fixtures

West Ham (H) – March 22, 2.15pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (A) – April 11, 3pm kick-off

Sunderland (H) – April 18, 3pm kick-off

Fulham (A) – April 25, 12.30pm kick-off

Tottenham (H), May 2, TBC kick-off

Liverpool next five fixtures

Brighton (A) – March 21, 12.30pm kick-off

Fulham (H) – April 11, 5.30pm kick-off

Everton (A) – April 19, 2pm kick-off

Crystal Palace (H) – April 25, 3pm kick-off

Man United (A) – May 2, TBC kick-off

Chelsea next five fixtures

Everton (A) – March 21, 5.30pm kick-off

Man City (H) – April 12, 4.30pm kick-off

Man United (H) – April 18, 8pm kick-off

Brighton (A) – April 26, 4.30pm kick-off

Nottingham Forest (H) – May 2, 3pm kick-off

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Manchester United return to Premier League action this afternoon when Aston Villa travel to Old Trafford

07:00, 15 Mar 2026

Manchester United welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford this afternoon as they look to cement their place in the top four. The Reds last played 11 days ago but only Mason Mount is back with the squad after suffering a knock at the start of February.

Lisandro Martinez’s recovery from a calf injury is taking longer to heal than expected. Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu remain long-term absentees with back and hamstring issues respectively. Noussair Mazraoui was injured in the defeat to Newcastle but trained this week with his teammates at Carrington.

Here are the United teams our writers think Michael Carrick should select against Villa.

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Tyrone Marshall

Carrick isn’t flush with options at the moment, with two of his best central defenders still injured, and although Mount is back in training, this is going to be too soon for a start, and it’s hard to see how he gets in the side anyway.

I would stick with Mazraoui ahead of Diogo Dalot at right-back at the moment. That change was made at Newcastle and it feels like it’s worth seeing the Moroccan in a few games now in that position.

The midfield picks itself, but I would change things up in the front three. Amad has been bright off the bench and as a left-footer, I would try him on the left to try and stretch the pitch and offer some more width. Carrick believes he can play there and he could have a similar impact to Dorgu. Matheus Cunha can drop to the bench.

Jack Flintham

Mazraoui may have returned to training this week but I would be hesitant to start him ahead of Dalot. It could be safer not to risk the Morocco international considering his injury at Newcastle.

The midfield three have cemented their places in the team and should remain unchanged. Amad will be desperate to return to the starting line-up but I am unsure of his suitability on the left.

Dorgu would be a perfect addition on that side but his injury ruins that plan. As such, Cunha probably has to keep his place.

Why have Man United ignored the credentials of Unai Emery when it comes to appointing a permanent boss?

Unai Emery ticks most of the boxes where Manchester United are concerned. He lives for football and stops at nothing in a bid to get the most of himself, not just those around him.

He is a proven winner and has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs. These include Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla. And up until a few weeks ago, had led Aston Villa into a title race alongside Arsenal and Manchester City. But it’s understood the Spaniard is not even on United’s radar as part of the club’s search for the next permanent manager. Which is odd.

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Emery is a manager who is more than hands-on – and doesn’t like being told what to do. Someone who could be regarded as a threat to some of those who sit on the United board of directors.

It’s true Emery can be a complex character. He is fuelled by umpteen cups of coffee a day, and is generally well and truly full of beans.

And Emery’s work ethic at Villa has become the stuff of legend. His days start early and finish late. He wants to spend as much time as possible at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, working on his tactics, solving puzzles and holding meetings with his players.

The kind of manager who leaves no stone unturned in his quest to win matches. He will head to Old Trafford on Sunday with Villa, looking to put one over his main rival for Champions League qualification.

Yet he will arrive inside the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ without having registered his name in United’s thinking. Beating United might see this change.

And so it should. Because United have become fixated with targeting managers who appear to be unattainable., while allowing Michael Carrick to enhance his own chances, or ignoring those who could be attainable. And Emery should at least be in the conversation.

He would back himself to succeed at United, despite it remaining a monumental challenge.

The partner of the Premier League star has held the accolade of being the ‘hottest WAG’ for several years

The wife of Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof is known as the ‘Premier League’s hottest WAG’. Maja Lindelof is expected to be at Old Trafford on Sunday when her husband makes his return with the Villans to take on his former side Manchester United.

Lindelof was at United for eight seasons and during that period, Maja was crowned the most sought-after partner amongst the league’s footballers. Whilst her daring photographs would often set pulses racing amongst supporters, her status as the most attractive was officially recognised in 2023.

Using the Artificial Intelligence application AttractivenessTest.com, Maja received the title. The app revealed she achieved an attractiveness score of 9.7/10, the highest of any Premier League footballer’s partner.

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Despite receiving this recognition, she previously stated in her blog that she detests being labelled as a ‘WAG’. “I am so sick and tired of people trying to make me smaller,” she wrote.

“Tired of people not knowing what’s important in life. I am an entrepreneur. I have my own company and soon I will start one more. If that is with money or love is none of your business.”

Maja, 32, and Victor tied the knot in Sweden in 2018 and now have two children together. Nevertheless, she is a thriving businesswoman in her own right as the owner of fashion brand Lisbonneatelier and has amassed an impressive Instagram following of more than 275,000.

The family moved from Manchester to the Midlands when Victor joined Villa last summer. The defender had initially signed for United in 2017 for £31million from Benfica.

The Sweden international, who represented United 284 times, was part of squads that won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. He also reached two Europa League finals, winning one.

Whilst many supporters will be delighted to see Maja make a brief return to Manchester, it appears United defender Harry Maguire only has eyes for Victor. The 31-year-old Swede has been in strong form under Unai Emery, helping Villa push for the top four in the Premier League.

Maguire praised his former centre-back partner on United’s official channels. He said: “I think Victor was an excellent player.

“I believe he didn’t get the credit he deserved when he was playing at this club, although he obviously played so many games and he always played under managers. But he was an excellent player and we had an amazing relationship on the pitch.”

Under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Maguire and Lindelof were the preferred partnership for two seasons as United finished third and then second.

“We kept loads of clean sheets, we defended properly, we defended well,” Maguire added. “So I’ve probably played the most games with Victor, and I believe our relationship on the pitch was as strong as I’ve had with anybody.”

United will host Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 15. Kick-off time is set for 2pm.

Manchester City were handed a major boost in midweek after Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester City’s bid to reclaim their Premier League title was boosted on Wednesday night thanks to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers. Arsenal were 2-0 up but a late fightback from Rob Edwards’ side rescued a point and gave City renewed confidence.

If City beat Newcastle United on Saturday evening, they will move to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. With Mikel Arteta’s side looking over their shoulders, it’s all to play for in the Premier League run-in.

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MEN Sport has picked out seven matches for City and Arsenal that could settle the title race.

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Man City vs Newcastle United – February 21

If City can find a win on Saturday, the title race will swing in their favour.

Newcastle have found the Etihad Stadium a tough place to visit and they won’t be looking forward to this game after a long trip to Qarabag on Wednesday. Should City win, they will crank the pressure up on Arsenal even more.

Tottenham vs Arsenal – February 22

After the setback at Wolves, the north London derby could be season-defining for Arsenal. Assuming City beat Newcastle, the pressure will be on the Gunners to restore their five-point advantage.

Spurs will be confident of upsetting their fierce rivals with new interim head coach Igor Tudor in the dugout for the first time. The mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should be positive compared to under Thomas Frank and if Arsenal are still suffering a hangover from Wednesday night, they could be tripped up.

Arsenal vs Chelsea – March 1

A double whammy for Arsenal as they follow up the north London derby with a visit from Chelsea. Their head coach Liam Rosenior earned no praise for his approach on their last visit to the Emirates Stadium.

But Chelsea’s ‘negative’ style saw Arsenal struggle to break them down. Only when Chelsea opened up did the Gunners score.

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There is every chance Rosenior looks to copy that tactic when they meet again in the Premier League. City will be hoping Chelsea’s defensive approach will frustrate Arsenal enough for them to drop points.

Chelsea vs Man City – April 11 (Date TBC)

City have not lost at Stamford Bridge since April 2021 but while their recent form against Chelsea is good, they will be wary. In the reverse fixture, Chelsea nicked a point at the death to frustrate the Blues.

At home, Chelsea will be expected to be more offensive – this should play into City’s hands. There has been audible frustration from the fans when Chelsea have struggled under Rosenior.

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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

The Blues will hope they can utilise this, turn the home fans against their team early and make it tricky for Chelsea.

Man City vs Arsenal – April 18 (Date TBC)

No surprise to see this one on the list. This game will give a huge indication as to which way the title is heading.

As things stand, the onus will be on City to take the game to Arsenal and that will be to Arteta’s benefit. However, if the gap is two points or the Blues are leading the way by the time they meet, the game has a different complexion.

Pep Guardiola will be confident his team can pick up the win if they are in striking distance of Arsenal. It should be a day when the Etihad Stadium is at its best.

Man City vs Aston Villa and Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – May 24

With the way the season is going, the title race could go down to the final day. City hold good memories of beating Villa on the final day to win a league title and it is that experience Guardiola will be leaning on if they need it.

Villa will be a tougher opponent considering their league position. But there is a good chance their season will be over should Champions League qualification already be secured.

As for Arsenal, the trip to Palace is not straightforward but they do have a good record there. It will be Oliver Glasner’s last game as manager at Selhurst Park, meaning the hosts will be up for it.

But whoever is top heading into the final day will be expected to complete the job.