Jadon Sancho compounds Manchester United misery after Arsenal defeat by reportedly rejecting loan move to AS Roma

Manchester United’s hopes of getting some financial relief after splurging on their attack this summer took a hit on Monday with out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho turning down a loan move to AS Roma that would have fetched the Red Devils £20 million ($27 million) down the road. The development has further soured the mood at Old Trafford after Ruben Amorim’s side began their season with a defeat.

According to Italian football writer and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Sancho has rejected a move to the Serie A club and is currently exploring alternatives, much to the dismay of his parent club – with whom he had signed a £73 million contract in 2021 after a four-year run with Borussia Dortmund.

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Roma had expressed interest in signing the 25-year-old on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy him at £20m at the end of the season, but will now have to look elsewhere after being informed by Sancho’s agent of the England international’s rejection.

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Reunion with Solskjaer on the cards? 

There is a possibility of Sancho playing under ex-United forward and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Turkish top-flight club Besiktas, where he has joined as the new head coach this season.

Sancho had briefly played under Solskjaer at Old Trafford in the 2021-22 season, with the latter having been sacked just three months into the season after a poor string of results.

The Englishman, however, reportedly isn’t too keen on finalising a move to Turkey right away, and is instead keeping it as an emergency option if nothing else works out before the 1 September deadline.

The fact that Turkish clubs can complete transfer business until 12 September gives Sancho and his agent more time to contemplate.

United have had quite the busy summer, spending over £200 million on the trio of Benjamin Sesko (£73.7 million), Bryan Mbuemo (£71 million) and Matheus Cunha (£62.5 million) in a complete overhaul of what was a misfiring attack last season.

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United, the club that had finished an abysmal 15th last season to register their worst finish in the Premier League era last season, have also signed defender Diego Leon for £7 million from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño.

Several players from their 2024-25 squad have either been released or loaned – the trio of Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof have parted ways for good while Marcus Rashford is among several players loaned to other clubs, with the 27-year-old academy product having joined Barcelona.

United began their season with a 0-1 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday at Old Trafford, thanks to a 13th-minute error by goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.