Manchester United and West Ham United held exploratory talks over a potential swap deal involving Jadon Sancho and Mohammed Kudus, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.
Sancho, who is set to leave Chelsea after a loan spell, was reportedly open to joining West Ham in a bid to revive his career.
Kudus, meanwhile, had shown a strong desire to make the switch to Old Trafford, intrigued by the opportunity to play under Ruben Amorim, who has long admired the Ghanaian midfielder.
However, despite initial interest from all parties, the proposed swap fell through after West Ham’s management team raised doubts over Sancho’s fit within their tactical setup.
Concerns over his defensive work rate, consistency, and how he would integrate into Graham Potter’s system ultimately led the Hammers to back away from the deal.
The development comes at a pivotal time for Sancho, who is now on the lookout for a new club. His loan stint at Chelsea will not be made permanent after the two parties failed to agree on personal terms.
As a result, Chelsea are obligated to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty, per the terms of the original loan agreement, adding another layer of complication to Sancho’s future.
Manchester United remain eager to offload the winger permanently this summer, but with the West Ham route closed and the Chelsea chapter over, the 25-year-old will need to assess his options quickly ahead of pre-season.
For Kudus, the breakdown of the swap deal may not end his hopes of a Premier League move, with Manchester United still interested and monitoring his situation closely.
The Ghanaian star finished the season strongly and remains one of West Ham’s prized assets.
