MANCHESTER UNITED CONTRACT DECISION LOOMS AS JADON SANCHO POSTS PUZZLING UPDATE FROM ASTON VILLA
Jadon Sancho posts a puzzling message on Instagram as he struggles for minutes during his loan at Aston Villa.
Jadon Sancho, currently on loan to Aston Villa from Manchester United, hasn't been getting much playing time, and he took to social media with a puzzling post.
The 25-year-old winger doesn't post often, but when he does, it's a series of eleven photos and messages on his Instagram.
One message said, "You have to serve a purpose to be around me in my new season." It’s really personal.
Other messages included On a mission and distance. Silence. Peace.
Sancho is on loan with Aston Villa for the season, but he's barely seen any action in the league.
He hasn't started a single game for Unai Emery's squad, currently sitting high in the standings. His eight appearances off the bench total just 127 minutes.
Sancho has played more in the Europa League, starting four games.
Still, he hasn't scored or assisted for Villa yet and has a tough job getting into Emery's starting eleven, which is currently third in the league, only three points behind Arsenal.
Emery mentioned last week that Sancho needs to get his form back and hinted that he could still be important in the second half of the season.
Jadon is still young. He has had a great career, and right now, he needs some help to get back to his best.
I've taken on that challenge with him, and he's taken on that challenge with me.
Sure, he's not playing as much as perhaps he should, but in the second part of the season, I believe in him.
He's really pushing himself to try and be at his best for us this season.
He's facing that challenge with me, himself, and the club. I believe in him, and hopefully, we can make it happen.
Sancho's future is uncertain. His contract with Manchester United runs out at the end of the season.
Man United can extend Sancho's contract for another year, which might allow them to get some money back in a transfer.
Sancho was part of a group of players that Man United wanted to move on from during the summer transfer window, and his loan deal was completed on the last day.
This is the third season in a row Sancho has been out on loan after going back to Borussia Dortmund in the second half of the 2023-24 season and spending the 2024-25 season at Chelsea.
Sancho was part of the Chelsea team that won the Conference League, even scoring in the final, but the club chose to pay a £5m penalty instead of signing him permanently.
ANTOINE SEMENYO CHRISTMAS EVE UPDATE REVEALS ADVANCED TALKS BETWEEN MAN CITY AND BOURNEMOUTH
Antoine Semenyo chooses Manchester City in a 65 million pound move that could send Savinho to Tottenham this January.
Word is, Antoine Semenyo might go to Man City, and that could shake things up for Tottenham and Aston Villa, maybe helping them get the players they want.
David Ornstein from The Athletic said that Semenyo wants to join Man City this January; he has a £65m release clause.
Fabrizio Romano, who knows a lot about transfers, said Man City is trying to wrap up the deal after speeding things up this week.
Romano tweeted that Man City is getting closer to signing Antoine Semenyo soon. The city pushed hard in the last day or so to get talks moving. Semenyo likes Man City the best, even though Man United tried hard, and Chelsea and Spurs are out of the running.
Romano mentioned later that Man City and Bournemouth would talk this week about Antoine Semenyo. The £65m release clause is good until January 10, but Man City will talk to Bournemouth about other ways to structure the deal and payments. Semenyo would rather play for Man City.
If Semenyo goes to Man City, Tottenham might still try to sign Savinho from City, and Aston Villa really wants Brennan Johnson from Spurs.
Man City thought Savinho was worth £61m this summer, but he might not get much playing time if Semenyo comes. Dean Jones told TEAMtalk that Savinho was interested in going to Spurs this summer.
Jones said that Savinho played for 20 minutes against West Ham, but lately, that's about the best he can hope for in the league.
He added that if City signs Semenyo, he thinks Savinho's spot in the team is questionable.
It'll be a tough call because they just gave him a new contract.
Tottenham was interested in him, and he seemed interested because he would be a really good player for them.
The city also has to decide what to do with Oscar Bobb if it gets offers.
But he does think Spurs are still interested in Savinho if they can't get other players like Semenyo, Maghnes Akliouche, and Yan Diomande.
If Tottenham gets Savinho or another winger, then Aston Villa might be able to get Johnson.
TEAMtalk says Aston Villa wants Johnson to add speed and the ability to play different roles to their attack. Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool didn't go well, so it will stop.
Tottenham is okay with selling Johnson permanently or loaning him out. Sources told TEAMtalk that Spurs want £30m-£40m for him.
THE SECRET TEXT MESSAGE MICKY VAN DE VEN SENT TO INJURED ALEXANDER ISAK
Thomas Frank defends Micky van de Ven as Arne Slot fumes over the challenge that left Isak with a broken leg today.
Tottenham's Micky van de Ven said he apologised to Liverpool's Alexander Isak after accidentally hurting him during their game. Isak is out for a while after getting surgery on his leg, which he broke during Liverpool's 2-1 win at Tottenham.
Isak got hurt at Tottenham.
Isak, who came on for Conor Bradley at halftime, scored for Liverpool about ten minutes later. Later, Hugo Ekitike made it 2-0.
Richarlison scored late for Tottenham, but Liverpool won. Sadly, Isak got seriously hurt while scoring.
When Isak shot, Van de Ven tried to block it. He couldn't stop the shot, and Isak's leg got twisted, forcing him off the field.
Van de Ven said he messaged Isak after the game to say sorry and wish him well.
Van de Ven: I didn’t want to hurt him.
Van de Ven told Sky Sports, “I texted him because I didn’t want to injure him.” I was just trying to block the shot. His foot landed awkwardly. I texted him afterwards and wished him all the best. I hope he's back soon. He replied and appreciated the message.
Liverpool's coach, Arne Slot, wasn't happy with Van de Ven's tackle, calling it 'reckless.' Isak had surgery on his ankle, and Slot is sure he'll be back this season, but he's upset about the situation.
Slot said, It was reckless. The tackle of Xavi Simons was unintentional. But Van de Ven's tackle? There’s a good chance of a player getting hurt. It’s a long injury, which is disappointing for him and us.
Frank defends Van de Ven.
Tottenham's boss, Thomas Frank, disagreed with Slot, saying any defender would try to block a shot like that.
Frank said, I don't agree. Van de Ven was trying to stop the goal. He was sprinting back and slid to block the shot. Isak's foot was planted there, making it look worse. Any defender would do that.
If my defender didn't do that, I wouldn't think they were a real defender. He's fair and competitive. Also, the players sorted it out, which is good.
Frank needs to improve things.
Tottenham's boss, Frank, hopes to win again when they play Crystal Palace this weekend. He might be the next Premier League manager to leave after only winning one of their last eight games.
After losing to Liverpool, they're 14th in the league, nine points above the drop zone. Frank needs to turn things around.