LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Director admits his club can’t afford to sign £73m Manchester United man

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United will want ‘a lot of money’ for Jadon Sancho with Borussia Dortmund not yet in a position where they can consider a permanent deal for the Premier League loanee.

That is according to Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund’s technical director giving a hopeful fanbase a dose of harsh reality with the prospect of a full-time return to Signal Iduna Park seen as unlikely for a man who retains the support of the Yellow Wall despite his recent struggles.

Jadon Sancho disappointed again even as Dortmund beat Union Berlin 2-0 on Saturday. But, such is the credit he has in the bank on the back of a glorious first spell in Schwarzgelben, no one of a BVB persuasion is giving up on the Manchester United misfit yet.

And that includes Kehl, insisting that those who expected Sancho to immediately rediscover his form after so long out of the picture under Erik ten Hag were always going to be disappointed.

Borussia Dortmund v TSG Hoffenheim - Bundesliga
Photo by Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/Getty Images

Manchester United may struggle to sell Jadon Sancho

“Jadon is not the old Jadon yet,” Kehl tells Sport1. “But he can’t be after not playing for six months. You have to give him time.

“He is a difference-maker and will be very important for us this season.”

But what about next season.

Even if the Ineos axe swings on Erik ten Hag – reports this weekend suggested that incoming technical director Dan Ashworth has held discussions with Graham Potter – the feeling is that Sancho has burned too many bridges to be afforded a fresh start at Old Trafford (The Sun).

Finding a buyer for a player who cost United an eye-watering £73 million may be easier said than done, however, with Kehl admitting that Dortmund’s already small hopes are likely to rest on Champions League qualification.

United paid £73 million to Borussia Dortmund

“In the end, it will take money (to sign Sancho). A lot of money. Definitely more than we have at the moment, that’s clear,” Kehl adds. “We got over 80 million euros for Jadon.

“Manchester United will of course also have an interest in either bringing him back in the summer or selling him in a deal that makes sense for them. Whether that also makes sense for us remains to be seen

“We will also have to wait and see how things develop. For us, qualifying for the Champions League is very, very important.”

That Union Berlin win lifted Dortmund above RB Leipzig into fourth. Edin Terzic’s side are six adrift of surprise packages Stuttgart in third, however.

READ MORE: Join the conversation with the United in Focus Whatsapp group