Jadon Sancho leaves Manchester United as a free agent after the club declined to extend his contract. Fiorentina turned down the opportunity to sign him, citing concerns over inconsistent performances. Yet interest across Europe remains high, with Borussia Dortmund leading the chase for the winger—a possible return to the club where he thrived before his £73 million move to Old Trafford in 2021.

The trajectory speaks for itself. Sancho registered 158 appearances across two separate spells at Borussia Dortmund before his move to Manchester United. His loan spell at Aston Villa last season reinvigorated his standing: 39 appearances across all competitions, 13 in the Europa League as the Midlands club won the trophy. That run marked his third consecutive European final in as many years—a pedigree Fiorentina doubted but European clubs covet.

Fiorentina's rejection was blunt. The Italian club cited lingering concerns regarding "his inconsistent performances and overall track record in recent years," per sportsmole.co.uk. Yet Sancho has signalled his direction clearly. He is "prioritising a move overseas despite receiving concrete approaches from several Premier League outfits," according to BBC Sport. The preference for Europe aligns with where his form has been sharpest.

Bergvall resists and Phillips returns

Lucas Bergvall is pushing for an exit from Tottenham after the club's £185 million double swoop for midfielders signals that regular football is no longer guaranteed. The 20-year-old returned from Sweden's World Cup campaign (four appearances) to find De Zerbi's midfield overhaul underway. He now demands an exit despite his six-year contract; Tottenham hold firm at £60 million-plus, and Newcastle and Forest remain below that threshold.

Kalvin Phillips takes a different path: a second chance at Sheffield Utd on a season-long loan. His first spell lasted three appearances and a red card during a derby with Sheffield Wednesday. The Manchester City midfielder returns to Yorkshire betting that Wilder's coaching can finally unlock what his parent club has struggled to extract.

As the window closes, these three high-profile situations remain unresolved, a reminder that not every transfer chase ends as anticipated when the summer began.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →