The Jadon Sancho controversy has been the most surprising development this season, and it may encapsulate Manchester United’s overall struggles under Erik ten Hag.

Sancho, who was expected to be a key member of United’s squad this season, has been dropped totally from the first team after a falling out with the manager.

As the club enters the January market with a lot of dead wages on its books and approaching the FFP limitations, it was expected that Sancho would leave.

It also made sense given his big pay and a semblance of marketability owing to his age and past performances.

However, United may have simply hinted that this is not the case.

The club has launched their 2024 calendar, which features a different player for each month.

Surprisingly, Jadon Sancho is the first player to wear the club’s colors in January.

It’s an odd move by the club to put Sancho up first in a group of more than 20 players, with several of them playing important roles this season.

In general, a player on his way out is seldom at the forefront of marketing campaigns, particularly fan-centric ones, because the product being marketed becomes obsolete as soon as the player goes.

Mason Greenwood and Cristiano Ronaldo are two examples of players who were removed from responsibilities that would have made them the club’s “face” after their departure was imminent.

Of course, with United consistently fumbling their administration of the club on and off the field, Sancho might go, presenting United fans with an outdated calendar in the first month itself.

That would be very consistent with how the Glazers have handled the club, but the other end of the spectrum is obviously a larger possibility now than it was before this calendar was revealed.