It says plenty about Manchester United’s attacking options, especially on the wings, that very little attention is being placed on who could replace Jadon Sancho should he come to leave the club this summer. With uncertainty over Marcus Rashford’s future, Erik ten Hag could be two forwards down on the group that he managed in the second half of last season.
Sancho, who spent the first half of 2024 on loan at Borussia Dortmund trying to find his mojo again, is one of the prime candidates to exit in the coming months. He wasn’t one who returned to the Carrington training complex on Monday for pre-season training. His relationship with Ten Hag has deteriorated, and with two years still yet to run on his contract, a sale is being pushed for.
The 24-year-old only played three times last season in the league before being effectively banished by Ten Hag. His minutes were largely filled by Alejandro Garnacho in a true breakout season for the attacker. Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund also played their fair share with the onus being on them more than initially planned to carry the burden.
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In 2024/25, United may well be without Sancho again but this time Ten Hag will need to balance the load, and there are already two players waiting in the wings to take up the mantle. Facundo Pellistri was also on loan in 2024, playing his football at Granada, and was afforded time to develop.
Having so far largely failed to make the step up at Old Trafford he may well now spot a chance to have an impact. The more likely beneficiary is Amad Diallo. He only made nine league appearances but once more offered a spark from the flanks.
After missing the first half of the season with injury he eventually got himself into contention and was a regular from the bench in the final weeks. Although the 21-year-old is unlikely to displace one of the first-choice attackers, he is unlikely to be competing with Sancho at all for a spot in the squad.
Like Sancho, Amad favours coming from the right wing, and with Garnacho operating mainly from the left, there is a spot open for more opportunities. If he can carry over the form from the end of last season – which saw him score and assist at home against Newcastle on the penultimate matchday – then there is a pathway for him.
Wayne Rooney saw enough that day to think that there is much brighter things to come. “What Amad showed was a bravery to get on the ball,” he said as a pundit. “He tried things. He did really well at Sunderland and he’s done well since he’s come into the team
“There’s opportunity to really stake a place in the team.” That opportunity may be about to get a bit bigger. Not only would turning to Amad or Pellistri more regularly next season save United money in replacing Sancho, but it gives them a chance to have yet more success with young forwards once again.
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