Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admitted “some issues” saw Jadon Sancho omitted from a second successive Premier League matchday squad.

Sancho, who appeared to be reintegrated during pre-season after last year’s falling out with Ten Hag, was absent again when United’s team to face Brighton & Hove Albion was published on Saturday.

The winger had already been missing from the Premier League opener against Fulham just over a week ago, although he was involved in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

“He is here but we had some issues,” Ten Hag told TNT Sports shortly before kick-off at the Amex Stadium, offering nothing in the way of details. “I had a choice to make. He has to compete for his position. We need in the squad every position double because it’s going to be a long season.”

Ten Hag opted for an unchanged starting lineup against Brighton, which meant Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo flanking club captain Bruno Fernandes in a ‘false nine’ role. There was also no Joshua Zirkzee, despite coming off the bench to score the winner against Fulham last time out.

Sancho is thought to be the subject of interest from Juventus in the final week of the summer transfer window, although any such deal may have to take the form of an initial loan.

No club has matched United’s reported £40m valuation of Sancho, having been made available all summer. Juventus are believed to keen on signing a couple more wingers before the transfer deadline, one of which if Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez – Sancho is another possible option.

Contact between United and Juve has been established and talks are ongoing, but whether a permanent transfer will be financially agreeable to all sides remains to be seen.

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