Given the evidence of the Jadon Sancho dilemma, Sir Jim Ratcliffe ought to arrest the Manchester United transfer issue.

Jadon Sancho will most likely depart Manchester United in January, but there is little chance that they will be able to recover a sizable portion of the £73 million they paid for him.

Jadon Sancho last touched the ball for Manchester United 83 days ago, and it’s possible that this 30-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest will be his final game wearing red.

Sancho’s lack of inclusion in the matchday squad for Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over them came after what Erik ten Hag called “below-par performances” in training. After virtually accusing his manager of lying, the 23-year-old was kicked out of the first team.

With three international breaks remaining in this season, Sancho’s predicament is getting closer to a resolution in terms of the number of days left until the January transfer market opens. While everything at United is changing, his perspective doesn’t, and he will almost certainly go.

Few can honestly claim that Sancho’s two and a half years at United have been successful, but the winger has made enough impressions in brief periods of time to draw attention from elite players. The team with the most constant links is Juventus, and Saudi Arabia will undoubtedly be interested.

Sancho’s departure from United is possible, but their desire to recover a substantial portion of the £73 million they paid for him in 2021 is the primary concern. It’s true that he hasn’t appeared to be a £73 million player.

The incident brings to light a significant issue that United has had for the past ten years: players are being purchased for enormous sums of money only to be offloaded at a significant loss. Years have passed, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to take action on this matter.

Although Harry Maguire has been one of United’s greatest players lately, he was for sale during the summer and most likely will be in June. Less than half of the £80 million he cost in 2019 is likely to be recovered, according to a £30 million bid that West Ham accepted this summer.

Since Ten Hag’s arrival, Anthony Martial has been so consistently annoying that United may decide not to extend his contract for an additional year in order to remove him off the books. Anthony Martial cost over £40 million back in 2015.Donny van de Beek is expected to depart for less than 25% of his £39 million worth.

And that’s only the very beginning. Henrikh Mkhitaryan cost £26 million before being traded for Alexis Sanchez, who ran out of contract and went for free. Paul Pogba cost over £90 million and left for nothing. Fred cost £52 million and left for £13 million.

Such agreements are a normal part of being a premier team. When a player joins United, they should be at the top of their game and should play out their finest years before dropping down when they are replaced. However, how many of the names above truly accomplished that?

Thus, among numerous issues to be resolved when Ratcliffe eventually becomes control of football operations at United and brings in his own men, one of the main ones is making money by selling players when the time is right. With the announcement on Wednesday that chief executive Richard Arnold would be leaving, the INEOS leader appears to be making changes at a high level already.

According to reports, John Murtough, the sporting director, may take over. Ratcliffe want to reorganize the group and bring in additional experience. Paolo Maldini and Dougie Freedman are two names that are connected.

Ratcliffe has a lot of problems to address after the Glazer family neglected him for almost 20 years, but the likelihood of Sancho’s death implies that this should come first.