Jadon Sancho is poised to return to Manchester United after failing to agree personal terms on a transfer to Chelsea, leaving the forward's future up in the air again
Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring for Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final
Jadon Sancho will not be joining Chelsea permanently(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images)
Less than 12 months after being offered a career lifeline by Chelsea, Jadon Sancho is almost back to square one. But if the Manchester United outcast is poised for another summer of upheaval, he has, at least, made inroads into restoring his reputation.
After failing to reach an agreement on personal terms with Chelsea, Sancho is once again on the market and available to the highest bidder.
He ends the 2024-25 campaign with 15 goal contributions across all competitions, including a stunning strike in the Blues' recent Europa Conference League final triumph.
While those returns may not have Europe's elite watering at the mouth, they do represent a significant upturn for a player who has looked a shadow of the swashbuckling forward that terrorised defences in Germany just a few years ago.
But the big question is what - or who - comes next for Sancho with the transfer window now open and teams preparing for next season.
Here, Mirror Football puts forward five potential options for the former England star...
READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd to make Mbeumo move, Fernandes makes Saudi decision, Wirtz clause revealed
Borussia Dortmund
Yes, the return has already been done. But with Dortmund said to be in talks with - ironically - Chelsea over a deal to sell Jamie Gittens, could chapter three be on the cards?
Sancho became a superstar in his first spell in black and yellow and Signal Iduna Park provided him with a sanctuary during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign when he was frozen out at Old Trafford.
With United's demands likely to be more reasonable than ever, Dortmund could yet make a play to bring Sancho back for good.
Newcastle
Jadon Sancho
Sancho could emerge as a cheaper alternative to Bryan Mbeumo for Newcastle
If Sancho is determined to make another go of things in the Premier League then Newcastle could be an option.
The Magpies wanted Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their forward ranks but he has his heart set on a move to Manchester United. Could Sancho be a realistic Plan B?
He would certainly command a far lower transfer fee than some of Newcastle's other transfer targets, such as Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. Newcastle would be able to offer him Champions League football and the chance to play for one of England's biggest clubs, so from Sancho's point of view, a move would tick a lot of boxes.
Al-Hilal
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Al-Hilal will be on the lookout for another marquee signing after being snubbed by Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah may have said no but maybe - just maybe - Al-Hilal will be third time lucky if they were to target Sancho.
Signing a big-name Premier League player would be just the ticket for the Saudi Pro League after some high-profile snubs. And while Sancho may have failed to come to an agreement with Chelsea over personal terms, there should be no such in issues with a prospective move to Saudi Arabia.
Whether he would fancy a move to Saudi at this stage of his career remains to be seen.
Bayern Munich
Jadon Sancho was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
Sancho flourished at Borussia Dortmund and may still have suitors in Germany
Erik ten Hag's arrival at Bayer Leverkusen is all but a guarantee Sancho won't end up there, but could Bayern Munich make a play for the former Dortmund favourite?
It's not like the German champions are afraid of poaching players who have been popular with their rivals. And after conceding to Liverpool in the race for Florian Wirtz, there is seemingly a No.10 vacancy in Munich.
Man Utd
Jadon Sancho didn't appear to be in Erik ten Hag's plans
Sancho was frozen out at Manchester United by Erik ten Hag but Ruben Amorim now calls the shots
Listen, we all know the score. There's no way back for Sancho at Manchester United, that's been made crystal clear. But at the same time, never say never in football.
Erik ten Hag was the one who froze Sancho out and he's long gone. Would Ruben Amorim fancy him playing in one of the two No.10 roles in his favoured set-up? Maybe, maybe not.
But if United fail to raise adequate funds this summer then their spending power will be massively limited. And if that turns out to be the case then maybe both United and Sancho will have to backtrack. Stranger things have happened.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.