The Red Devils "007" is in a transfer deadlock, and tens of millions of annual salary is a shackle. Where can I go?

On August 19, 2025, the Premier League summer window entered the end, and the Red Devils "007" - Sancho's transfer soap opera ushered in the most dramatic turning point. It is reported that Rome's sports director Sabatini personally flew to Manchester for a negotiation but failed. Italian media disclosed that the 25-year-old England international insisted on asking for an annual salary of 10 million euros after tax (about 190,000 pounds per week), far exceeding the salary cap that Rome can afford.

This tug-of-war not only puts Manchester United in a financial crisis with a single-quarter salary burden of over 250 million pounds, but also reflects the deep dilemma of transfers of high-paying players in the Premier League.

Transfer Tug-of-war: The game behind the quotation of 20 million pounds

Roma's sincerity and helplessness

According to the authoritative reporter of the transfer market, Roma has submitted a plan of 20 million pounds to rent and then buy (including the 18 million buyout clause), and promised to give Sancho the core left winger position.

But Sancho's team directly showed their trump card: "Either match the existing salary or no talks". This attitude puts Roma in a dilemma - even if the club is willing to bear part of its salary, the annual salary of 10 million euros after tax will account for 15% of the team's salary expenditure, far exceeding the reasonable range of Serie A team. Manchester United's financial difficulties

Sancho's current weekly salary is as high as £250,000 (annual salary is about £13 million). If the transfer window is closed on September 1, Manchester United will have to pay full salary for the last year, which is equivalent to giving away players for free and paying £25 million.

What's even more difficult is that the transfer fee record set by the player when he joined Manchester United for 85 million euros in 2019 has now shrunk to 28 million euros. If the club forcefully retained it, it may trigger the review of the UEFA Financial Fairness Act. The chain reaction of the salary bubble

The collapse of the salary structure of the Premier League

The Sancho case is not an isolated case. During the same period, Manchester United winger Garnacho was delayed by the Blues for negotiating treatment with Chelsea, which led to the failure of the transfer income of Manchester United youth training players; Juventus once offered generous conditions for an annual salary of 6 million euros, but asked Manchester United to share part of the salary, and the negotiations eventually broke down.

Data shows that in the summer window of 2025, 11 players with annual salary of over 10 million pounds have been unemployed, setting a record high. The confidence crisis between players and the club has been cited by Sancho's team on many occasions, from refusing the Saudi consortium's offer to request a £5 million loyalty bonus during the period from refusing the Saudi consortium's offer to loaning Chelsea, the contradictions continue to accumulate.

Manchester United coach Amorin said bluntly: "We cannot pay maximum salary for players without fighting spirit ". This opposition directly leads to players’ negative training and refusal to participate in commercial activities, further reducing market value.

The dilemma of potential next home and the doubts about Dortmund

Although Sancho is willing to return to Dortmund by 50% (annual salary of about £6.5 million), Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kyle recently said in an interview with Bistro, the team's current priority is to complete Nicholas Gonzalez's transfer (Juventus has listed it as a non-sale product), which may affect the pace of Sancho's transaction.

The more realistic problem is that Sancho only contributed 5 goals and 9 assists during his loan period last season, and was selected into the All-Week team only once in 31 Premier League games. The key pass success rate (6.3%) and confrontation success rate (38%) both hit career lows, and the state is difficult to match the needs of Champions League teams.

The Turkish team's ultimatum

Besiktas is ready for the official announcement video and is willing to provide an annual salary of 9 million euros after tax (about 170,000 pounds per week) and match the portrait rights share, but Sancho's agent Emeca Obasi made it clear in an interview with Ass: "The players will not consider the Turkish League at this stage." Türkiye's transfer window will be closed on September 12. If there is no progress at that time, Manchester United may have to bear part of its salary until the expiration of its contract in 2026, but the specific amount has not been disclosed.

Industry Inspiration: The triple dilemma of transfers of high-paying players

Misalignment of market value and salary expectations

Sancho's plunge from a sky-high price of 85 million euros (Manchester United introduced price in 2021) to a current price of 28 million euros, exposing the vicious cycle of the Premier League's "premium signing-performance decline-difficulty in turn". His case is mirrored by Pogba (100 million euros after joining Manchester United and depreciated to 45 million euros). Both show the characteristics of a premium of over 100% and a career cycle shortened by 3-4 years. The double-edged sword effect of the mandatory buyout clause

The fixed £20 million + £5 million set by Chelsea when loaning Sancho in 2024 was set to float, which eventually became a decoration because the players refused to cut their salary. This clause becomes a transfer obstacle when the player declines, forcing the club to take higher risks. The transfer paradox of youth training players

Ganacho incident shows that the transfer income of youth training players is crucial to Manchester United, which is facing financial difficulties. But when the player's relationship with the club breaks down, even a transfer agreement can trigger turmoil in the locker room.

Future Deduction: Three possible ways to sell at a low price (probability 40%)

Manchester United may accept a symbolic offer of £15 million to avoid losing players for free next year. Refer to the £15 million case of Lingard's transfer from Manchester United to Nottingham Forest in 2023, but he has to bear the loss of salary difference.

Forced termination (probability 30%)

If Sancho insists on refusing to sign a salary reduction agreement, Manchester United may invoke professional terms in the contract and terminate the contract early on the grounds of "major breach of contract". But the move will face Premier League scrutiny and will pay 50% of the player's remaining contract period as compensation.

Stay in the team for a long time (probability 30%)

In the worst case, Sancho continued to receive a high salary and sit on the bench. But head coach Amorin has confirmed that he is not in the 2025-26 season plan, and players will face a long-term substitute or loan. At the same time, Manchester United launched 19-year-old youth training winger Amade Diallo in the preseason, and his technical characteristics (2.1 passes per game, 34km/h sprint speed) formed a direct competition with Sancho, resulting in the latter's further marginalization on the right. This transfer deadlock is essentially a concentrated outbreak of the sequelae of the Premier League "gold dollar football". When players' salaries are seriously decoupled from competitive value, the club, players and league will pay the price. Whether Manchester United can find a balance point at the last moment will determine the success or failure of its reconstruction plan this summer.

Where do you think Sancho will go in the end?

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