There are a handful of takeaways from reports that Manchester United have decided against including an option-to-buy clause in Jadon Sancho’s contract with Borussia Dortmund.

Perhaps it is as simple as Fabrizio Romano implies, and the Red Devils believe that discussing a long-term contract is not the moment. After all, Jadon Sancho is nearing the end of his career and hasn’t played a minute since the season began, so his value isn’t rising right now. 

If Manchester United decides to sell in July rather than January, a confidence-boosting summer back at the club where he played his best football may allow them to recoup a major portion of their £73 million investment. 

Furthermore, because the Premier League had not yet formally sanctioned INEOS’ 25% takeover, those prepared to grab 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 a speculative thought, is there something else at work here? Something that, if you’re a certain Dutchman named Erik, might simply haunt your dreams for the next few months and hover like a phantom over your glossy bald head?

“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 wrote in the newspaper X. “Man United (and INEOS) are opposed to a cheap buy option because Jadon’s current value is low.” Sancho’s fate will be decided in June.” 

This clearly indicates that INEOS is leaving all options open.

One option is to fire Erik ten Hag – pressure is rising after 14 defeats this season, and Graham Potter links are circulating – and give Sancho the opportunity to restart his Man United career under a new manager next season. 

There is no reason to suggest Ten Hag’s job is in threat. That might change if he does not end his awful slump in the second half of his second season as coach. 

Jadon Sancho will remain an enigma at Old Trafford as long as Ten Hag remains in charge. Simply said, there isn’t enough room in town for both of them.

However, if Ten Hag is unable to persuade INEOS that he is the right man to take the club forward, and if Sancho shows the drive and ambition to make up for lost time, the latter may outlast the former.