Erik ten Hag reiterates Man Utd return down to Jadon Sancho | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag has reemphasised that Jadon Sancho could return to the fold at Manchester United, but the ball is firmly in his court.

The 23-year-old has been exiled at Old Trafford after publicly criticising Ten Hag in the wake of being dropped for United's game against Arsenal in September. Ten Hag stated at the time that Sancho had fallen below the standards expected of a United player, in particular on the training ground.

Sancho hasn't been seen in a United shirt since and has been training away from the first team at Carrington. He hasn't played any kind of football for over three months, and 90min understands that a return to Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window is the winger's preferred option.

Ten Hag has previously said that Sancho could be reintegrated into the squad if he apologises for his behaviour and shows a willingness to learn, but the situation remains unresolved despite United struggling to find consistency both at home and in Europe.

"So it is about a culture and every player has to match certain standards and it was about that," Ten Hag reinforced in an interview this week, quoted by Manchester Evening News. "What will happen there (over his future), he knows what he has to do, if he wants to return and it is up to him. He knows what he has to do, it is up to him."

90min understands that a rumoured swap deal involving Dortmund forward Donyell Malen has little to no traction at this stage, despite intermediaries offering the Dutchman's services, and significant incomings are unlikely in January as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority investment, which will see him set up a new footballing department, has yet to be signed off.

Sancho is currently on a personal training programme that separates him from United's first team squad, with an appearance in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on 26 August the last time he was seen on the field.