Jadon Sancho will eventually spend a summer without links to Borussia Dortmund, but that will not happen this year as he prepares to become a free agent from Manchester United.
That’s at least according to BILD, who report that the 25-year-old is ‘fundamentally interesting’ to Dortmund thanks to his free agent status.
According to the newspaper, Dortmund are considering Sancho as a potential successor to Julian Brandt.
The 29-year-old is departing in the summer on a free transfer himself, with that made official over the past week.
Indeed, he’s been quickly pushed to several clubs in the Premier League. Aston Villa are interested and see him as a replacement for Sancho, who is on loan from Manchester United and will not be signed permanently.
Free agent status
Either way, Dortmund are seeking a new creative attacking player. The German side want someone who is versatile and immediately contribute. Sancho would fit the profile perfectly.
He knows Dortmund well after two spells at the club, knows the Bundesliga and crucially, is available on a free transfer. That is a factor which makes him ‘fundamentally interesting’ to Dortmund.
There is also a belief that Sancho is willing to ‘significantly reduce’ his salary to make the deal happen. That’s another bonus for Dortmund, but goes without saying really.
The player isn’t going to find a club on earth to match what Manchester United paid him. Therefore, taking much less is more of a reality check than a gesture.
Sancho fit at Dortmund
The only major problem is that Sancho may be ill fitted to coach Niko Kovac. He places great emphasis on discipline, structure and team cohesion. Those are all areas that Sancho is seen as lacking in.
The club, and long-time associates like President Hans-Joachim Watzke and Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl know ‘exactly how to manage him’, though. In the past, that has eventually involved treating Sancho like a child and managing as many aspects of his life as possible.
At times, that’s worked. So, that could override the negatives as well.
The key factor is Sancho’s impending free‑agent status, with Manchester United set to let his contract expire. That’s got Dortmund thinking of another reunion and a third spell at the club for Sancho.