He has been training on his own at Carrington on full pay, costing United around £4m in wages under the terms of his £275,000-a-week contract.

However, according to Spanish outlet Sport, the 23-year-old could be set to end his Old Trafford purgatory and swap Manchester for Barcelona in January.

Sancho has been exiled at United since a public falling-out with Ten Hag in September

Ten Hag insisted Sancho must apologise but admitted there is a way back for him if he does so

Raphinha has struggled with injury and has seen his place in the starting line-up threatened by the emergence of Lamine Yamal

Sport claims that Sancho has been offered to Xavi‘s side in a stunning swap deal for former Leeds winger Raphinha.

The Brazilian completed a £56m move to the LaLiga giants in 2022 and helped the side claim the league title in his debut season.

However, his return of seven goals and seven assists was modest from 36 league matches. Raphinha hasn’t really improved his hit rate this term and has increasingly found his place in the starting XI under threat because of the emergence of Lamine Yamal.

There has also been interest in Sancho from Juventus and the Saudi League, while his old club Borussia Dortmund have been linked with a swap deal for Donyell Malen.

But ahead of United’s dismal home loss to Bournemouth, Ten Hag indicated that there is still time for the England international to stay at United if he is prepared to fall into line.

‘It is about a culture and every player has to match certain standards, and it was about that,’ said the United boss, who claimed in an interview this week that he has no regrets over his handling of the controversy.

‘What will happen there, he knows what he has to do if he wants to return. It is up to him.’ Asked if he thought the money spent on the player’s wages was a waste, Ten Hag replied: ‘I think that is an internal matter. We will see what will happen.’