‘Very difficult’ - Dortmund chief gives Jadon Sancho transfer verdict with Man Utd return possible

Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl has said it might be ‘very difficult’ for the club to sign Jadon Sancho permanently next summer.

The winger joined Manchester United for a fee of £73m in the summer of 2021 but did not have the expected impact at Old Trafford and managed just 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances.

Following his public criticism of manager Erik ten Hag in September last year, Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan last month with no option to buy included in the deal, despite protracted negotiations between the clubs.

Kehl, the former Dortmund midfielder, has revealed the club did try to include a potential permanent option in the deal, but struggled to match United financially.

“Unfortunately for both players [Sancho and Ian Maatsen], neither option was really realistic,” the 43-year-old told Sky Germany when asked about inserting a permanent option in the loans. “If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two and a half years ago, then you know also that it might now be very, very difficult.

"We naturally advocated for an option with him - and also with Ian - but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it and so we will accept it for now."

Sancho missed Friday’s 0-0 draw against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, but has impressed since his return to Dortmund and has registered two assists in three league matches. It’s unlikely the 23-year-old will play a role at United while Erik ten Hag is in charge, after the former England international said his manager’s claims of poor performances in training were ‘completely untrue’.