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Manchester United are prepared to cut their losses on Jadon Sancho, but his salary remains the major obstacle to a switch away from Old Trafford. Reports in Italy suggest United have accepted an offer of €23m (£19.8m) from Roma, yet the winger has not signed off on personal terms.
The issue is his £250,000-a-week contract, worth roughly £13m per season. Roma cannot stretch to that level and are exploring ways to structure a deal that spreads the financial burden. One idea put forward is a five-year contract, effectively lowering the annual cost while still handing Sancho a competitive wage.
United, for their part, are unwilling to sanction another temporary move. The club are pushing for a permanent sale between £20m and £25m, keen to trim their wage bill and remove a player who is not part of Ruben Amorim’s plans.
Amorim Clears the Decks
Sancho has been on the fringes ever since falling out with Erik ten Hag last year and his situation has not improved under Amorim. The new United boss has made it clear the 25-year-old has no future in his system, leaving the player searching for an escape route.
Despite his high profile, options are proving limited. Sancho’s wages are seen as excessive by many European clubs, and Roma are one of the few willing to engage in serious talks. Even so, they are pushing back hard against his demands.
Previous Loan Spells Offer Few Clues
Sancho spent the second half of last season at Chelsea, where he played a role in their Conference League triumph. But despite paying a £5m loan fee, Chelsea declined to take up any permanent option, reflecting doubts about his long-term fit.
Before that, he had returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2024, reigniting form in spells but again leaving questions about consistency and commitment. That mixed record means clubs are cautious, even if the player shows flashes of his old brilliance.
Dortmund Links Resurface – With Conditions
Talk of a third reunion with Borussia Dortmund has circulated in recent weeks. German media even report Sancho is ready to slash his wages by 50% to force a move back to the Bundesliga. Yet inside Dortmund, there are concerns about going down the same path once more.
The club fear criticism from fans and pundits for revisiting a player both Chelsea and United have deemed surplus. Beyond that, doubts remain over whether Sancho is the right long-term solution or just a short-term fix.
Expensive Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off
When United signed Sancho from Dortmund in 2021 for £73m, he was billed as one of England’s brightest attacking talents. But his three seasons at Old Trafford have failed to deliver on that promise. Across 83 appearances, he has scored just 12 goals and contributed six assists – far from the impact expected for such a high fee.
With one year left on his deal – plus a club option to extend – United are determined to avoid losing him for free. A sale this summer represents their best chance of recouping at least a fraction of the initial outlay.
The Waiting Game Continues
For now, the situation remains at a standstill. Roma want the player but not the salary, Sancho wants his wages protected, and United want a clean break. Until one of those sides compromises, Sancho is stuck in limbo – frozen out of United’s squad, yet too expensive for his main suitors.
If Roma’s proposal of a longer deal fails to convince him, Sancho may be forced to wait for late-window movement or rekindle talks with Dortmund. Either way, time is running short for all parties to find a solution before the season moves into full swing.
