Ten Hag confirms Sancho visit as Man Utd boss offers lifeline to exiled star

Erik ten Hag has revealed that representatives from Manchester United have visited exiled star Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.

Sancho, 24, was loaned back to former club Dortmund in the January transfer window, having gone four months without a game for United. The winger had a bust-up with Ten Hag after the Red Devils boss publicly criticised his performances in training after leaving him at home for their 3-1 loss at Arsenal on September 3.

Minutes after the final whistle, Sancho posted a statement on social media and accused Ten Hag of lying, claiming that he'd been made a scapegoat. But the 23-capped England international has rediscovered his form in Germany, helping Dortmund reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Sancho was instrumental during Wednesday's 1-0 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, putting in the kind of electric performance not seen throughout his two-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford. But it appears that his United career isn't over yet, despite being banned from the first-team dressing room and canteen until his loan move to Dortmund.

"We are visiting games," Ten Hag explained. "We visited, I would not say all of the games, but we have seen more games from Dortmund where Jadon was performing.

"We also had a visit with him, we had a talk with him during his stay there and we will keep going with this process, we will continually be in contact and communicate. We have four important games in the league and then the FA Cup final, so we will see in the summer what's going to happen."

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Red Devils' Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, Ten Hag also hailed: "He played very well and he's a very good player. Yesterday, he showed why Manchester United bought him and he showed he represents a high value for us, which is good. I'm happy for Jadon, for the performance yesterday and we'll see what is going to happen in the future."

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, meanwhile, has confirmed that the Bundesliga side "will try everything" to sign Sancho on a permanent basis. "His qualities don't need to be described. He has regained his smile in the six months with us," Kehl said after Saturday's 5-1 win against Augsburg.

"We will try everything. But Manchester United also sees how well he is playing at the moment. Maybe they also want to sell him for profit. Or bring him back."