Borussia Dortmund are stepping up their interest in bringing Jadon Sancho back to the club in January and have opened talks with Manchester United, HITC Football understands.
Sancho has not played for Manchester United since last August when he featured in their Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. He was dropped from their squad the following week for the trip to Arsenal with Erik Ten Hag claiming he has failed to train to the appropriate level.
The England winger publicly criticised Ten Hag and was banished from the squad and first-team duties as he refused to apologise to the manager and it remains the case that he was defiant in his belief that he was mistreated by the Dutch manager.
Senior staff, coaches and playing staff have tried to play peacemaker but HITC Football has been told that even up to last week, Sancho was firm in his stance that he was not prepared to ‘make-up’ with Ten Hag having felt like he was the one who had been treated unfairly.
Dortmund want Sancho return
Dortmund have long been open to Sancho’s return to the club and have been in regular contact with the player’s representatives and United, to keep abreast of the situation.
Now United sources have confirmed that ‘initial’ talks have taken place between Dortmund and United about an initial loan – although a long-term deal running into 2025 has not been ruled out by either side.
It is believed that United will recoup some sort of loan fee, but that will be used to pay Sancho’s wages initially.
HITC Football understands that RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen both also showed interest in recent weeks as Sancho made it clear that a move back to Germany was his preference ahead of a possible move elsewhere in Europe such as Spain or Italy. But Dortmund remain in pole position to land him.
Saudi Pro League interest
The Saudi Pro League had shown an interest in the summer, but it is understood they were unlikely to make a move for him this month unless the player showed any desire to make the switch to the Middle East and up to this point, he had not.
Dortmund are now hopeful they can bring back the 23-year-old who had four brilliant years with the club before his £73million move to United in 2021.
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