Jadon Sancho would have sent Manchester United to Europa League final, says Paul Scholes

Scholes’ former club exited the competition on Sunday as they were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has said that Jadon Sancho would have sent the Premier League club to the Europa League final by helping to secure victory over Sevilla.

United were beaten 2-1 by the Spanish outfit on Sunday evening after Bruno Fernandes’ early penalty was cancelled out by Suso before Luuk de Jong’s winner in the 78th minute.

The result marked a third semi-final defeat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, following Carabao Cup and FA Cup exits in the final four.

And club legend Scholes has said that the presence of transfer target Sancho would have altered the result on Sunday.

“I thought [United] were good tonight, but that 15 minutes after half-time, you have got to score them,” Scholes said of a wasteful United’s many missed chances.

“We talk about spending money and about buying centre-forwards and wide players – you are talking about millions, but they score the big goals.

“I think if Sancho is in that team tonight, they score one of those.

“United were the better team, but the defensive part of the second goal was shocking. [Victor] Lindelof has got to be looking at him.”

United seemed to be just days away from announcing the signing of winger Sancho from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month, but a move now looks unlikely this summer.

Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc revealed last week that the Bundesliga club had secretly extended the 20-year-old’s contract last year, meaning his deal runs until 2023 – not 2022 as was previously believed.

Sevilla will go on to face the winner of tonight’s clash between Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk in Friday’s Europa League final.