The unexpected young talent who Man United might use to replace Sancho

This “exceptional” product from the academy might be the solution to Manchester United’s right-wing issues.

Manchester United invested £73 million on Jadon Sancho and £82 million on Antony during the summer transfer window of 2021 in an effort to address the team’s right wing problems. But in every competition this season, neither player has managed to record an assist or score a goal.

Particularly since he and manager Erik ten Hag had a falling out during the team’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium back in September, Sancho has had few chances to show off his skills this season.

Since then, Ten Hag has been baffled as to who to start on the right side, as Antony has also performed poorly this season. The player has been withdrawn from all first-team responsibilities.

The Dutchman hasn’t yet tried out one guy, though, who might be United’s savior.

Man United’s lacklustre attack

Man United invested well under £230 million on new players during the summer transfer window, paying exorbitant fees for players like Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana. Nevertheless, the Red Devils’ attacking record in the Premier League is the ninth worst. Only Marcus Rashford has scored goals this season out of all of United’s forwards.

Man United’s attackers – 2023/24

Player

Goals

Assists

PL Appearances

Rasmus Hojlund

0

0

9

Marcus Rashford

1

1

11

Anthony Martial

0

0

10

Antony

0

0

9

Alejandro Garnacho

0

0

10

Facundo Pellistri

0

1

5

Jadon Sancho

0

0

3

Data from Transfermarkt & the BBC.

Since leaving Manchester United for Nottingham Forest in the summer for a fee of £15 million, Anthony Elanga has actually scored more goals in the Premier League this season than the entire forward group.

Ten Hag appears to have tried every possible front three lineup this season, but to no avail. Omari Forson, an academy graduate who was previously hailed as “exceptional” by sports attorney Thierry Granturco upon his arrival to United, has yet to receive a premier league debut from the Dutch coach.

This season’s stats for Forson.

Over the past week, reports have indicated that Manchester United is up against it to retain onto 19-year-old attacker Forson, as clubs throughout Europe are showing interest in him. According to The Mirror, Forson can be signed in January for a very small amount; his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and United is reportedly “desperate” to cling onto him.

With United’s U19s and U23s, Forson has had a fantastic season. In eight games across all competitions, he has seven goals and two assists, which is seven times more than any attacker in the starting lineup.

Forson was even benched for the team’s most recent visits to Bayern Munich and Copenhagen, though the winger did not come off the bench in either game due to his impressive performances, which earned him a nomination for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award in September.

In 33 appearances across all competitions since the start of the 2022–2023 season, Forson has netted 16 goals and provided five assists for the Red Devils.

The young player can play on either side, as seen by the nine goals that have come from the right flank and the six that have come from the left. Sancho, on the other hand, has only managed seven goals and three assists from 44 games throughout the same span.

Ten Hag has to give Forson his first chance at Old Trafford now, before he leaves for a pittance in the coming months due to Antony’s lack of production for Man United this season and Sancho’s reported departure in January.