There are a couple of conclusions to be drawn from reports that Manchester United have chosen against adding an option-to-buy provision in Jadon Sancho’s contract with Borussia Dortmund.

Perhaps it is as simple as Fabrizio Romano claims, and the Red Devils believe that now is not the time to discuss a long-term contract. After all, Jadon Sancho is at the bottom of his career and hasn’t played a minute since the start of the season, so his value isn’t skyrocketing right now. 

If Manchester United decides to sell in July rather than January, perhaps a confidence-boosting period back at the club where he played the finest football of his career will allow them to recuperate significantly more of their £73 million spend. 

Furthermore, with INEOS’ 25% takeover not yet formally sanctioned by the Premier League, those poised to seize control of Old Trafford’s football operations were always going to take any long-term decision about Sancho’s future into their own hands. 

But, if we may indulge in the odd conspiracy notion, is there something else at work here? Something that, if you’re a particular Dutchman named Erik, might simply haunt your dreams for the next few months and hang over your glossy bald head like a spectre?

“Manchester United don’t want to include any buy option into Jadon Sancho’s loan deal to BVB, as the situation will be assessed again in the summer,” he writes in X. “Man United (and INEOS) are opposed to a cheap buy option because Jadon’s current value is low.” In June, Sancho’s fate will be decided.” 

This obviously suggests that INEOS is leaving all options open.

One alternative is to fire Erik ten Hag – pressure is mounting after 14 defeats this season as Graham Potter links circulate – and offer Sancho the chance to revive his Man United career under a new manager next season. 

There is now no reason to believe that Ten Hag’s position is in jeopardy. That might change if a terrible slump in the second half of his second season at the helm is not stopped. 

Jadon Sancho will remain a persona non grata at Old Trafford as long as Ten Hag is the manager. There simply isn’t enough room in town for both of them.

But if Ten Hag cannot persuade INEOS that he is the appropriate man to lead the club forward, and if Sancho demonstrates the will and ambition to make up for lost time, the latter may survive the former.