England's new Alli! Romano: Manchester United likely won't renew Sancho's contract, letting him leave on a free transfer

Alli was Tottenham's attacking linchpin and an England regular at a young age, valued at one point at 100 million euros. Now, at 29, he is clubless, a meteoric talent in decline. Meanwhile, Sancho, once England's bright prospect, is poised to become the new Alli. Due to poor form and a money-driven refusal to transfer, no club wants to sign him. Ultimately, Manchester United will let Sancho leave on a free when his contract expires, as his wages are too high, reportedly £200,000 per week.

According to the latest report from Italian transfer expert Romano, Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa, having made just 4 substitute appearances in the Premier League, totaling 88 minutes without goals or assists, and is unlikely to be bought permanently. Sancho's contract with Manchester United runs until the end of this season. This summer, United pushed for his sale, but no club was willing to make a permanent deal; only Premier League, Serie A, and Turkish clubs offered loan deals. Sancho ended up joining Aston Villa on loan but has not been favored by Emery, unlike Rashford’s loan spell there last season. Given Sancho’s £200,000 weekly salary, Manchester United are reluctant to extend the one-year contract option, meaning his contract will expire at season’s end, allowing him to leave on a free next summer.

Sancho came through Manchester City's youth system and rose to fame at Borussia Dortmund, where in 158 appearances he scored 53 goals and provided 67 assists, including three consecutive seasons with double-digit goals and assists. Notably, in the 2019-20 season, he recorded 20 goals and 20 assists in 44 matches across all competitions, showing his ability to both create and score. In the summer of 2021, Sancho transferred from Dortmund to Manchester United for €85 million, with a market value of around 100 million euros. However, his time at United has been disappointing, with 83 appearances, 12 goals, and 6 assists across all competitions, including loan spells back at Dortmund, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, where his form has not matched his earlier brilliance.

In my personal view, Sancho is only 25 and not truly fallen, but rather too focused on money, unwilling to give up a big contract. When his deal expires next summer, he can use the free agent status to find a new club, with Serie A being the most suitable destination. Sancho has technical skill but lacks pace, making him less suitable for the fast pace of the Premier League but potentially a good fit for the slower tempo of Serie A. He still has a chance to turn his career around next season; if he fails, he will become the new "Alli."