Jadon Sancho of Manchester United Photo: VCG

At the end of the season, it will be nine years since Manchester United last won the league. Last season they finished second, just as they did under Jose Mourinho three seasons ago, but the truth is that not one of the managers hired to replace Alex Ferguson has come close to adding a 21st English title.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping that this year is different and that the difference maker is Jadon Sancho.

The England winger finally arrived from Borussia Dortmund this summer, a year after United had tried to bring the former Manchester City youth star to Old Trafford.

Sancho was delighted to have returned to England from Germany, where he impressed in the Bundesliga.

"I'll always be grateful to Dortmund for giving me the opportunity to play first team football, although I always knew that I would return to England one day," the forward told the club's official website in July after is signing was announced.

"The chance to join Manchester United is a dream come true and I just cannot wait to perform in the Premier League. This is a young and exciting squad and I know, together, we can develop into something special to bring the success that the fans deserve."

Solskjaer echoed that.

"Jadon epitomizes the type of player I want to bring to the club, he is a forward player in the best traditions of Manchester United. He will form an integral part of my squad for years to come and we look forward to seeing him blossom," the Norwegian told the club website.

"His goals and assists records speak for themselves and he will also bring tremendous pace, flair and creativity to the team. 

"Old Trafford will give him the platform he needs to release his untapped talent and perform at the highest level. For a player of his age, Jadon has already achieved a great deal and showed the courage to go and prove himself abroad. We all look forward to welcoming Jadon to the squad as we prepare for the new campaign."

To be involved

Sancho has now been welcomed to the squad, training with his new teammates this week in the run up to the English Premier League opener.

With fans now back at Old Trafford, as they were for the 5-0 friendly win over Everton last weekend, the stage could be set for Sancho to star from the substitute's bench on Saturday.

"Jadon is in for Monday and hopefully then he's in decent nick and can be involved," Solskjaer said in the post-match press conference after the friendly match stroll past Everton.

In an interview before the Everton game Solskjaer told ESPN's Rob Dawson that Sancho could be the type of star that the fans have been asking for.

"Yes, we think so anyway - that's why we've identified him. We've followed him and decided to go for him and finally we made the breakthrough and got the deal done. He's got that DNA of exciting fans and entertaining and he's also a winner.

"He wants to win and that's the next step for us. We need to take the next step, we want to take the next step and we feel that he can help us do that."

Under Solskjaer, United have reached five semifinals - losing four of them - and one final, the UEFA Europa League final last season.

That was lost in a heartbreaking penalty shootout to leave the club trophyless for a fourth straight season.

Sancho - and some of his United teammates - were left disappointed in the summer too as part of the England team that lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

Solskjaer thinks that there is more to come from his new signing.

"Of course we're going to give him a chance to develop more and more throughout time. It's not like in your first game you have to show everything; we've seen so many times with our players that when you play for Manchester United that gradually, with the help of the coaching staff and the platform of Old Trafford, you'll improve as a player."

Even his teammates are excited, Bruno Fernandes among them.

"We are really happy with everyone that is coming in and to keep the lads who have been here the last few seasons is important because you have to grow up, and at the same time you have to keep the same players to know we are doing better and better," the Portugal star said of Sancho and his fellow new arrival Raphael Varane, who is also expected to be on the bench for the visit of Leeds United.

"With this team, we know we can do better, but adding some players to the team helps the team be better."

Solksjaer is clear on what Sancho brings to the team, as he told ESPN.

"He's such a creative, positive winger and forward player. He can play wide, nip into the pockets and he excites the fans," Solskjaer said.

"He takes people on one-against-one, he creates chances, he works hard and he loves football. And there is some untapped talent there I am sure, and coming into this environment will help him improve as well."

The boss thinks that the challenge is for Sancho to improve - and with it to improve the side's ability to challenge Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea for the title.

"The boy is going to get a chance, he's going to come into a group that's still improving and still developing, getting closer, and the expectations are here.

"It's Man United and we know that our fans want us to go one step further than we did last season, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Time will tell if Sancho can make the difference but after more than a year trying to sign the winger and fans kept out of Old Trafford for most of that, there could be not more anticipation for his debut.