Jadon Sancho once had the world at his feet.
He was one of the first names on the team sheet at Borussia Dortmund and seemed destined to become of the best wingers in the game. But after six years of mediocrity, the world is now wondering what on earth happened.
Pressure can break footballers and it’s clear that Sancho’s £73million move to Manchester United broke him. He was at a team that didn’t play to his strengths, in a league that didn’t suit his style of play.
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Sancho had two years of middling performances at Man Utd before being loaned back to Dortmund. There he showed glimpses of his ability once again in the 2023-24 season, instantly becoming a first team regular again and leading the team to the Champions League final.
But there was another bad choice as a loan spell at Chelsea proved another disastrous turn. Sancho struggled for inconsistency at Stamford Bridge and failed to become a first-choice winger under Enzo Maresca. His mis-firing displays infuriated fans and, in the end, Chelsea appeared so dissatisfied that they opted to pay a £5m penalty fee to send him back to Man Utd rather than take up their £25m obligation to buy.
Sancho is now at a crossroads. Ruben Amorim hasn’t included Sancho in his pre-season plans for Man Utd, with the Englishman told to train alone as he looks for a new club. But we’re weeks away from the new season, with Sancho yet to find an escape route from Old Trafford.
So, where could he go?
Dream: Juventus
Juventus appeared to be one of the most likely destinations for Sancho early in the window. But that trail has since gone cold.
According to reports, Juventus were putting any move for Sancho on hold until they had sorted out Nico Gonzalez’s future. The Bianconeri know they have to sell players before they can sign any new ones.
Gonzalez has fallen out of favour under new boss Igor Tudor. And Sancho is seen as the ideal replacement. He has reportedly already agreed personal terms with the club, while Man Utd had also accepted a £15m transfer fee to clear him off their wages.
But the move could collapse as Sancho is being forced to wait until they offload players. He might not have the patience to wait until they do so as sporting director Damien Comolli confirmed their position.
“We have two of the best wingers in the world, and Nico is a great player,” Comolli told Sport Witness. “If someone were to leave, we will consider him [Sancho].”
Joining a club like Juventus would mark another top club Sancho has appeared for in his career. And it would also allow him to experience a new league in Serie A. With a slower pace, Sancho could thrive. But it might not work out, timing-wise.
Realistic: Borussia Dortmund
This is a move that is picking up traction and one that makes the most logistical sense. Sancho emerged in the public eye as a sensational talent at Borussia Dortmund. The media loves him. The fans love him. When he went back on loan, he immediately slotted back into life at the club and was a hit once again.
You have to wonder why he didn’t go straight back on loan again last season given his success at Dortmund. And returning there seems like a no brainer for Sancho. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and something seems to just click for him at Dortmund.
It seems now that Sancho is fast-tracking a move back to his former club. According to reports, Sancho has spoken to club chiefs Lars Ricken and Sebastian Kehl about a possible return.
Sancho is reportedly so eager to finalise the switch and end his Man Utd woes that he is willing to cut his staggering wages of £275,000-a-week in half if it means he can feel at home again and have a chance to play regular football.
Sporting director Kehl recently spoke about the prospect of a Sancho return and admitted his reunion was a possibility.
“[Sancho] is constantly being linked with us. I understand the desire,” he said.
“We’re thinking about it within our possibilities. The conditions have to be right. We will definitely do something, but we’re limited.”
Wildcard: Al-Hilal
Many people say moving to Saudi Arabia is a sign that your career as a top level footballer has come to an end. And that might be true in many respects.
But you only have to look at how many elite players are plying their trade in Middle East to see how respected the Saudi Pro League is and how competitive it is becoming.
Of course, linking up with Al-Hilal would not be the move I would advise Sancho to make if I were his agent. But it certainly would be one way of upholding his eye-watering salary demands of £14m a year.
Realistically, no other club in the world would be willing to pay that because of Sancho’s struggles on the pitch. So it will come down to what he cares more about: Playing regular football at the highest level, or being a success commercially and raking in as much as possible.
Last month it emerged that Sancho was one of many players Al-Hilal had approached over a marquee move. And let’s not forget the team are still seeking their big name signing after missing out on luring Mo Salah away from Liverpool.
Other than Malcom, Al-Hilal don’t have outstanding wing options since releasing Neymar following his disastrous 18-month spell at the start of this year and Sancho would go right into the team. Al-Hilal did show they could mix it with the best after drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup and beating Manchester City in the last-16.
Squawka suggests: Aston Villa
Here me out. While Sancho’s time as a Premier League looks done and dusted, there could be a club with a need for a player of his quality and position. And there is a void that he could fill.
Last season, Aston Villa loaned another Man Utd outcast in Marcus Rashford, who played primarily up front and was a relative success at Villa Park.
Rashford’s pacy runs in behind added some spark to Villa’s attack going forward. His ability to drive forwards at players, take them on and crack shots off was exciting and got fans off their seats.
With Villa not taking up their option to re-sign Rashford permanently or on loan again and the 27-year-old since linking up with Barcelona, there could be a opportunity for Sancho to replace him.
Villa have a number of winger options at the club, including Leon Bailey, Donyell Malen, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers and John McGinn, but there are a lack of standout stars who can dominate on the left flank.
Sancho’s presence could see him rotated with Ramsey on the left, with Ollie Watkins returning as the primary attacking force up front. It would ease the pressure off Sancho to play at a club with slightly reduced expectations but it might just have the same effect as Rashford in galvanising him with an attacking team that is a united front under Unai Emery.