Liverpool could sign Jadon Sancho on a free transfer this summer, six years after Jurgen Klopp claimed the Manchester United misfit would be ideal for the Reds. The 26-year-old is set to depart Old Trafford when his contract expires on June 30, ending a disappointing five-year chapter at the club.
Despite holding the option to extend his contract by a further year, United's hierarchy chose to part ways with the winger, who has not featured for the club since August 2024.
Sancho's career trajectory could have been entirely different had Klopp gotten his way back in 2020, prior to his switch to United. The former England international was linked with the Red Devils during his penultimate campaign at Borussia Dortmund, while German publication Kicker reported that he preferred a move to Anfield.
Fresh from clinching the Premier League title for the first time, Klopp was asked about Liverpool's prospects of signing the then-highly coveted youngster. He told German newspaper Bild: "The red shirt [of Liverpool] would suit very well. I don't think such a transfer will be possible this season. He [Sancho] is a very interesting player. If he's coming to Liverpool I would be the most surprised of all of us."
A year later, Sancho became a United player in a £73 million deal, arriving alongside the returning Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane.
Sancho's looming free agent status means he is available, but with his career having plateaued in recent years, the attraction of acquiring him has diminished considerably. While a switch to Liverpool would appear improbable given his unsuitability to Andoni Iraola's high-intensity approach, the Reds do require attacking reinforcements.
With Mohamed Salah departing the club, Hugo Ekitike's injury likely sidelining him for the first half of the campaign, and the uncertain prospects of Federico Chiesa, Liverpool supporters may see a transformation of their attacking options.
Finding a replacement for Salah will be an almost insurmountable challenge, but should the Reds succeed in pursuing Yan Diomande, he could prove quite the heir. It was claimed last month that the Premier League outfit are frontrunners for the RB Leipzig winger, who is also attracting attention from Paris Saint-Germain. The Bundesliga club have reportedly set an £87 million price tag on their 19-year-old prospect, who on Monday played a key role in Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their opening World Cup 2026 fixture.
