The £40m genius Arsenal transfer raid that could do wonders for the Gunners

Erik ten Hag has hung on, somehow. In spite of Manchester United openly conducting a search for his successor right in front of him, and in spite of the Red Devils recording their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season, the Dutchman has been assured that he will still be manager at Old Trafford come the beginning of the new campaign. Don’t let anybody tell you that the FA Cup is no longer important.

And with Ten Hag’s continuation comes the final nail in the coffin for one United player in particular. If Jadon Sancho’s predicament in Manchester was precarious before, his fate now is essentially sealed. Barring a miraculous thawing of hostilities, the winger is likely to be sold this summer, although it is not abundantly clear as to where he will end up next.

Borussia Dortmund, where Sancho spent the second part of last season on loan, remains an option, and the player himself is understood to be very happy in Germany, but it is unclear whether or not the Champions League finalists will be able to match United’s £40 million valuation. In Italy, Juventus have also emerged as prospective suitors, while transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has suggested that there could also be interest from the Premier League too - although, at this precise moment in time, the exact nature of this remains unspecified.

All of which naturally lends itself to speculation. And there are certainly plenty of clubs who would be well-advised to take a punt on Sancho. Chelsea have been mentioned in the past, and the likes of Newcastle United could really make a statement of intent by snatching the 24-year-old away from Old Trafford.

But the form that Sancho showed from January onwards in the Bundesliga - and indeed, in the Champions League - is enough to suggest that he could still have something to offer at the very highest level. It feels as if the England international has been around forever, and it is easy to forget that, in terms of age, he is still yet to properly enter the peak of his career. That, combined with the obvious talent that he never truly managed to showcase in a United shirt, suggests that with the right coaching, he could still reach his dizzying full potential in the Premier League.

To that end, perhaps Arsenal should be taking a look at him. The Gunners are in need of attacking reinforcements this summer as they look to build a squad capable of finally usurping Manchester City at the summit of the table. It is not difficult to envisage Sancho, with all of his technical ability, slotting into Mikel Arteta’s preferred system, and at £40 million or so, he would represent a relatively affordable option compared to other touted targets.

Then, of course, there is the Arteta effect. Perhaps the best illustration of this is the restorative job that the Spaniard has done on the reputation of Kai Havertz, but there are plenty of other examples besides, and it is hard to argue against the fact that he has a knack for coaxing the best out of his players. Sancho could really use a similar boost in his fortunes right now, and if Arsenal were to gamble on him - and if Arteta could help him become the talent that he has always promised to be - then it could be a move that benefits both the attacker and the Gunners massively.

There is a deal to be done here, and Arsenal should certainly be one of the many, many clubs considering a swoop.