Jadon Sancho sealed a transfer deadline day loan move from Man Utd to Chelsea, who have an obligation to buy him, spelling the end of his turbulent Old Trafford spell. But United chiefs insist he was not forced out against his will, despite his fall out with Erik ten Hag

Jadon Sancho was not forced out of Manchester United against his will, according to new sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Sancho was sent out on loan to Chelsea on transfer deadline day, despite having ostensibly made his peace with United boss Erik ten Hag following their fall-out last season. As part of the loan agreement, Chelsea have an obligation to buy Sancho at the end of the season, for a fee between PS20-PS25million, depending on how they perform this season.

But Ashworth rejected the suggestion that winger Sancho, who spent the second half of last season on loan at former club Borussia Dortmund, was driven out of United because of his spat with Ten Hag. Asked if Sancho's fall-out with Ten Hag meant there was simply no future and no way back for him at United, Ashworth said: "Nothing to do with that. It was a decision that we made - if it's right for Jadon and it's right for us to move on.

"He wanted to explore the opportunity at Chelsea, like Scott McTominay wanted to explore the opportunity at Napoli, like Aaron Wan-Bissaka wanted to explore the opportunity at West Ham. We're not in a position where we're kicking players out of the club.

"We felt we had enough depth in that particular position to be able to cover it. We've got four really good wide players, Jadon was the fifth, and it just enabled us to make that decision that if it was good for him and good for us, it was something we were willing to consider."