Aston Villa are now closing in on the signing of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.

Villa have reportedly reached an agreement with United to sign Sancho on an initial season-long loan deal, as per several reputable reports.

Unai Emery has been eager to strengthen Villa’s options in wide areas and Sancho was discussed as a target on Sunday during talks with United about goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Negotiations have been ongoing ever since and there’s now been a breakthrough.

The Athletic reports Villa are ‘on the verge’ of agreeing a loan deal for Sancho, with a club-to-club agreement close. Only the final details must now be sorted, it’s claimed. Sancho is heading into the last 12 months of his Man Utd contract but the Red Devils still have the option to extend his deal by a further year, hence it’s a straight loan.

Fabrizio Romano has gone one step further to stay the deal is now sealed. Posting to X, Romano said: “Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa, here we go! Deal in place on initial loan from Manchester United. Green light from United and deal being sealed with formal steps to follow next. Sancho will join.”

The winger, who joined Man Utd from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for a whopping £73 million, spent last campaign on loan at Chelsea. The Blues had an option to buy Sancho but opted against it, instead paying a £5 million penalty fee. BBC Sport reports Sancho turned down a loan switch to Serie A club AS Roma earlier in the transfer window.

Sancho, a 23-time England international, contributed just 12 goals and six assists in 83 appearances across all competitions for United, last appearing for the Manchester club in the Community Shield last August. For Chelsea, Sancho scored five goals and provided 10 assists in 43 outings.

Before joining United, Sancho was widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Europe. The now 25-year-old netted 53 goals and notched 67 assists in 158 games for Dortmund and was tracked by many of Europe’s top clubs. United were delighted to sign him at the time, though it’s not worked out as hoped at Old Trafford.

Now set to embark on the latest chapter of his career, Sancho will be eager to return to his best form. It’s a deal reminiscent of Marcus Rashford’s loan to Villa back in January; Emery has been tasked with getting an out-of-sorts player back on track.