Atletico Madrid are reportedly weighing up a swoop for former Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho, who is also on the radar of Borussia Dortmund.
United exit
United confirmed that Sancho would leave the club at the end of June following the expiry of his contract. United had the option of extending his stay by an additional 12 months but opted against exercising it, presumably to finally cut ties after years of a frustrating association.
He arrived to much fanfare and expectation but struggled to live up to it. The hype failed to live up to the reality.
His start to life at Old Trafford was disrupted by an ear infection, but even once he did start playing regularly, he struggled to adapt to the demands of English football and being a United player.
Erik ten Hag granted Sancho time away from the club in 2022 to work on his mental health, but the pair then engaged in a bitter public feud a year later, which resulted in a four-month exile. This spat was effectively the end of Sancho as a United star.
He returned to Dortmund for a six-month period in January of that season, where he rediscovered some of his form. He helped the Bundesliga giants to the Champions League final, where they fell to Real Madrid. Dortmund opted against signing him permanently, prompting United to loan him to Chelsea.
The forward managed just three goals in 31 league appearances at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had to pay United a £5m fee to opt out of the obligation to keep the player. He spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Aston Villa, winning the Europa League but only scoring once in all competitions.
Currently a free agent, Sancho is looking for his next destination and according to BILD, Dortmund are open to a second reunion. However, they face competition from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Sancho update
BILD claim that Dortmund would snap up Sancho but only under the right circumstances.
If Sancho accepts a significant pay cut, then a move is possible. Dortmund are willing to offer him a base salary of €5m. The structure of his wages would be heavily weighted towards performance-based incentives.
Dortmund are also unwilling to pay him a signing bonus despite the fact they will not fork out a transfer fee. As it stands, there have been no negotiations with Sancho’s camp, but he has been discussed internally.
The German outfit are wary of raising his hopes but in the final weeks of the summer window, they could move in for him if he is still available. Sancho himself is said to want to play at Signal Iduna Park again. This period represented the zenith of his playing career, and he maintains a significant emotional affiliation with the club.
Another factor working in his advantage is that Karim Adeyemi’s transfer to Barcelona has left a vacuum in the attacking department. There is a belief that Niko Kovac can help Sancho get back to his best.
BILD further note, “But now Borussia Dortmund faces stiff competition. Atlético Madrid is also interested in the Englishman.”
“The Spanish club is closely monitoring the situation and has Sancho on their list of potential attacking reinforcements.”
Sancho made 83 appearances in all competitions for United, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists.
Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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