Jadon Sancho has reportedly instructed his representatives to seek a return to Borussia Dortmund, regardless of what happens with his loan at Chelsea.
Chelsea have an obligation to sign Sancho permanently this summer, but they can opt out of this clause by paying a £5m penalty to send him back to his parent club, Manchester United, who have no intention of reintegrating the winger into their squad.
While it remains unclear whether Chelsea will exercise their option to sign him permanently, Sancho’s underwhelming performances—two goals and four assists in 23 Premier League appearances this season—mean that the Blues are not guaranteed to complete a £25m deal.
According to BILD, Sancho has expressed to his agents that, whether he stays at Chelsea or returns to United, his preference is a reunion with Borussia Dortmund. It was with Dortmund that Sancho rose to prominence as one of Europe’s top wingers, leading to a £73m move to United in 2021, which co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirmed is still being paid off.
Sancho is reportedly keen to return to Dortmund or at least move back to the Bundesliga, with Bayer Leverkusen also rumored to be interested in signing him this summer.
However, Dortmund’s financial situation could complicate any potential transfer. The club is likely to miss out on Champions League qualification this season, which will affect their transfer strategy and likely lead to prioritizing player sales to make up for the lost income.
One possible source of funding for a move for Sancho could come from the sale of winger Jamie Gittens, valued at around £80m, who is reportedly attracting interest from Chelsea, United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.
