Sancho set for Anfield switch six years after Klopp admitted winger would suit Liverpool

Jadon Sancho is set to leave Manchester United as a free agent this summer after the club chose not to trigger a one-year extension option in his contract, which expires on June 30 — ending a five-year stint at Old Trafford that yielded little of the promise that once made him one of Europe’s most coveted wingers.

The timing carries a certain irony for Liverpool. Back in 2020, while Sancho was still at Borussia Dortmund and heavily linked with a move to United, then-Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was asked about Liverpool’s chances of signing him. Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Klopp said: “The red shirt [of Liverpool] would suit very well. I don’t think such a transfer will be possible this season. He is a very interesting player. If he’s coming to Liverpool I would be the most surprised of all of us.”

Sancho instead joined United in the summer of 2021 for £73 million, arriving alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane. His time at the club unravelled steadily, and he has not featured for United since August 2024.

Whether Liverpool will now act on what Klopp once described as an appealing prospect is far from certain. Current head coach Andoni Iraola favours a high-tempo, high-pressing style, and questions remain over whether Sancho — whose career has stalled significantly — fits that profile. The appeal of signing him on a free transfer has faded considerably from his Dortmund peak.

Nevertheless, Liverpool face a genuine need to reshape their attacking options. Mohamed Salah has departed the club, summer signing Hugo Ekitike is expected to miss the first half of the season through injury, and Federico Chiesa’s future remains unresolved.

The club’s primary attacking target appears to be Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger. Liverpool are reported to be leading the pursuit of the Ivory Coast international, who is also attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain. Leipzig have placed a valuation of around £87 million on the teenager, who scored in his country’s 1-0 World Cup 2026 victory over Ecuador. Whether Sancho represents a low-cost complement to that pursuit or a footnote to a more ambitious rebuild remains to be seen.