A prominent stumbling block in Juventus’ pursuit of Jadon Sancho has been revealed by an Italian football transfer insider.
Juventus are reportedly weighing up a loan move for Sancho, with an obligation to buy him at the end of the season for £40million.
Earlier this month ESPN reported that Juventus have been ‘convinced’ that Sancho wants to join them, also being willing to throw in Federico Chiesa on loan as a makeweight.
The 24-year-old was left out of Manchester United’s opening-day squad for the 1-0 win over Fulham, despite Erik ten Hag ‘drawing a line’ under their row which saw him exiled and loaned to Borussia Dortmund last season.
Ten Hag bluntly stated that players must ‘deal with it’ if they are left out and while Sancho made his return in a United shirt over pre-season, questions linger over his future.
There is reportedly a major stumbling block in Juventus’ pursuit of Man United’s Jadon Sancho
Sancho is on reported wages of £15m per season – a colossal sum, especially given Juventus’ financial problems
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Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that Sancho’s salary, reported to be around £15million per season, is a problem for Juventus.
Juventus are facing significant financial challenges. They reported a net loss of around £80m in the first half of the 2023-24 fiscal year, with their cumulative losses over six-and-a-half years standing at £672m.
Cristiano Ronaldo took legal action against them last September over unpaid wages during the Covid-19 pandemic and in April they were reportedly ordered to pay him £8.3m, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.
In this context adding £15m to the wage bill is an uninviting circumstance.
Manchester United paid £100,000 per week during Sancho’s loan to Borussia Dortmund because his full wage was far beyond the German side’s regular ceiling.
Juventus can offer an attractive pitch in a footballing sense as they are back in the Champions League, having come third in Serie A last season.
I Bianconeri have a fresh face in the dugout in the form of Thiago Motta, 41, who led Bologna to the Champions League last campaign, ending a 65-year wait for elite European football.
They could reportedly face competition from Barcelona for Sancho, with the LaLiga titans keeping tabs on him – though they want United to pay his full wage for a loan duration, according to SPORT.
Erik ten Hag is open to Sancho staying but did not pick him in the squad to face Fulham
Thiago Motta, Juventus’ new manager, is on an upward trajectory after his success at Bologna
Ten Hag is open to him staying.
Discussing his relationship with Sancho, Ten Hag told AD: ‘We spoke well. Anyone can make a mistake. If the player reflects well on that, then draw a line and continue again.
‘This club needs good players, and one thing is for sure: Jadon Sancho is a terribly good player. I hope the click will come after all, and that it will contribute to our success.’
