Borussia Dortmund expect to sell Sancho this summer

Borussia Dortmund expect to sell Jadon Sancho this summer and are planning for his departure.

Manchester United are keen on signing the 20-year-old England international before the start of next season, though they and the German club remain some distance apart on the final transfer fee.

The German club are holding out for around £100 million, while United are keen on signing him for around £20 million less. Michael Zorc, Dortmund’s sporting director, anticipates a drawn out transfer to take place and is nevertheless looking for a replacement for Sancho, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Dortmund recently signing another United target, Birmingham City’s teenager Jude Bellingham, and that outlay might motivate them to sell in order to balance the books, though they are in no drastic financial trouble. The same is true for United, who have drawn down some of their £200 million overdraft in order to cope with the impact of coronavirus, and could also help them finance some transfer spending before the closure of the transfer window.

Sancho is still expected to join United but the transfer would be made easier if United manage to qualify for the Champions League next season in order to persuade Sancho to join, and to ease any financial concerns. United are in third in the Premier League but need a draw against Leicester City on the final day of the season to ensure that they qualify. A defeat may still see them through but that would depend on the outcome of Chelsea’s match against Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

If United do not qualify through the league then they still have a chance if they were to win the Europa League due to take place in August, but there is no guarantee, particularly on recent showings in domestic football, that they have the form to pull off such a victory.