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- Dortmund weighing up Sancho approach
- Deal would mark a third spell at club
- Man Utd’s reported price tag revealed
According to Sky Sport Germany Dortmund are holding “internal discussions” about potentially bringing Sancho back to Signal Iduna Park again. That process is ongoing and the possibility doesn’t appear to have been ruled out. It is claimed that Manchester United would ask for €18-20 million (£16-17m/$21-23m) to permanently cut ties with the 25-year-old winger.
Sancho has barely had a role at Old Trafford since a very public falling out with Erik ten Hag in late summer 2023. He finished the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Dortmund, before a brief reintegration and then heading to Chelsea last season. Since returning from London, Sancho has been part of United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’, afforded the opportunity to arrange a transfer but asked to stay away from the rest of the players.
Chelsea opted to pay a penalty fee to cancel an obligation to buy attached to last season’s loan, having failed to agree on personal terms, while Juventus were heavily linked until completing a permanent deal for Francisco Conceicao. It is now thought that player sales are first required in Turin until any more new signings can be made. Dortmund could be the opportunity that United need.
As far as Sancho is concerned, Dortmund is where he has always played his best football. During three full seasons as a first-team player in his initial spell, the ex-Manchester City talent contributed 109 goals and assist in 125 appearances across all competitions. The short loan in 2024 later saw him help the club reach the Champions League final.
So far this summer, Dortmund have spent significantly less on transfers than they’ve raised through players sales. Around €27m (£23.5m/$31m) has been spent on three permanent signings, compared to almost €70m (£61m/$81m) coming in – the majority of which is Jamie Gittens’ move to Chelsea. The club also just about secured Champions League qualification with a late surge into the الدوري الألماني‘s top four at the end of last season, which will boost their budget.
Dortmund have just over four weeks to decide if spending money on Sancho is the right move for them going into 2025-26. But he will probably have to accept a substantial pay cut to facilitate the transfer, given that it is thought Manchester United contributed at least half of his salary during his loan with Dortmund in 2024. That, rather than the fee between the club, is where things could more likely break down.
