Manchester United in talks to sign Arsenal academy star as Jadon Sancho replacement: report

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag arrives for the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on December 02, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester United are looking at bringing in a graduate of Arsenal's academy, in their bid to replace Jadon Sancho.

The Red Devils are set to let the £73 million Sancho return to Borussia Dortmund on loan this month, in a bid to rehabilitate the winger's image. Sancho hasn't been included in Erik ten Hag's squad since being dropped for the defeat to Arsenal earlier this season and is hoping to rediscover form back in the Bundesliga.

With Manchester United short of attackers as it is though, a replacement is due to replace the outgoing No.25, as Ten Hag looks to push on up the table.

Jadon Sancho of Manchester United instructs team mates during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on August 26, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Jadon Sancho is leaving Manchester United this month (Image credit: Getty Images)

Football Transfers says that "discussions have been intense" at Old Trafford over bringing BVB star Donyell Malen to the Premier League in return for Sancho.

Similarly to Sancho, Malen is capable of operating on either wing and could provide competition and cover for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho. The Dutchman has previous experience of English football, too, though not at the top level.

Malen was a member of Arsenal's famed Hale End academy, signing from Ajax as a youngster, before departing for PSV in search of game time. He left in 2017 without having represented the first team.

Donyell Malen of Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League Group Stage match between AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 28, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Donyell Malen could join Manchester United to replace Sancho (Image credit: Getty Images)

Following a phenomenal scoring record at PSV, Malen has struggled to hit the same heights at Dortmund. It's believed that he is a target for Ten Hag thanks to the pair of them sharing the same agency, SEG, who also count Rasmus Hojlund as a client. 

Malen is worth €35m, according to Transfermarkt

More Manchester United stories

Manchester United are weighing up a shock move for 34-year-old striker, claims one transfer insider, with Jadon Sancho exit reportedly agreed by the Red Devils.

United are also looking at a move for Michael Olise of Crystal Palace, while the Red Devils have been joined by Chelsea in the race to sign a defender who has been compared to Raphael Varane.

And this damning stat sums up how poor United have been in the 2023/24 season.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.