Sir Jim Ratcliffe must arrest Manchester United transfer issue that Jadon Sancho situation proves

It's been 83 days since Jadon Sancho last kicked a football for Manchester United and that half-hour appearance against Nottingham Forest may well be his last in red.

Sancho was left out of the matchday squad for the following game, a 3-1 defeat by Arsenal, for what Erik ten Hag described as below-par performances in training. The 23-year-old subsequently effectively accused his manager of lying and was then exiled from the first-team squad.

This season is now into it's third international break and Sancho's situation is only closer to a resolution in terms of days until the January transfer window opens. Change is happening all around at United but his outlook remains the same and an exit is almost certain.

ALSO READ: Ratcliffe’s Champions League ambition for Man Utd rests on three key decisions

ALSO READ: Three reasons why Jadon Sancho Manchester United exit isn't straightforward

Few can say with any conviction that Sancho's two-and-a-half years at United have been a success, but the winger has shown enough in moments to attract top-level eyes. Juventus are the most consistently linked, while Saudi Arabian interest is a given.

United are open to losing Sancho but the main issue comes in their desire to recoup a large chunk of the £73million they spent on him in 2021. Frankly, he has looked nothing like a £73m player.

The situation highlights a major problem at United over the last decade, with players being bought for vast sums of money and then offloaded at a major loss. It is an issue that has been ongoing for years and one that Sir Jim Ratcliffe must arrest.

Harry Maguire has been one of United's best players in recent weeks but was up for sale all summer and will likely be so again come June. He cost £80m in