Jadon Sancho's future has taken a new twist after it emerged that a potential suitor have no desire to sign him.
Unwanted by Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, Sancho was among the high-profile names placed in the 'bomb squad' and made to train away from the first-team as he looked to find a new club.
Sancho was linked with a whole host of clubs throughout the summer window but ended up signing on loan for Aston Villa on transfer deadline day.
The 25-year-old had spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Chelsea and helped them secure qualification for the Champions League, as well as scoring in a Conference League final victory.
But the Blues elected against signing Sancho permanently, reportedly paying United a penalty fee of £5 million.
Sancho has only managed 88 minutes for Aston Villa in the Premier League. Image: Getty Sancho has played eight times in all competitions for Villa, accruing 336 minutes of game-time. His only starts have come in the Europa League and in a win over Manchester City, Sancho was substituted by Unai Emery having only been brought on to replace the injured Emi Buendia.
Sancho still has a contract with United until 2027 but according to talkSPORT, the Red Devils are willing to end his £200,000-a-week contract early and allow him to leave on a free to finally get him off the books.
With reports that Villa do not want to sign him, his former club Borussia Dortmund, where he enjoyed the best years of his career and returned on loan to help them reach the Champions League final in 2024, have been touted as a potential destination.
However, insiders for SPORT1 say that Sancho's name is not being discussed for by the club going forward despite his love for BVB.
Speaking on the Die Dortmund Woche podcast, reporter Oliver Muller called Dortmund links "nothing more than a fairytale idea" and he is "no longer a hot commodity".
Both he and fellow reporter Manfred Sedlbauer, who said Sancho to Dortmund is "like Groundhog Day every six months", ruled out the Ruhr outfit having any serious interest in Sancho.
Villa are paying 80% of Sancho's hefty wages while he is on loan but their deal does not contain a forced buy or break clause.