Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted that Jadon Sancho did have his head turned in the summer after Manchester United made an attempt to sign the 20-year-old.
The Bundesliga club held on to the player after the Red Devils refused to pay the €120m (£108m) asking price that was being asked, and Watzke believes the winger’s below-par performances this season are a result of him believing that he was leaving:
“Subconsciously, Jadon had probably already prepared a little for a change. I think he had at least thought so much about it that he lost his ease. I have found him trying very hard for weeks.”
Naturally, supporters on Twitter have jumped on the comments made by Watzke, with some encouraged by the confirmation that Sancho is very much interested in making the switch to Old Trafford:
he wants to leave
— Jay (12-4) (@Chxcharito) January 3, 2021
Just come home Jadon
— َHarvey (@UtdHarvv) January 3, 2021
let the man be free
— nosss™️ (@utdsupremee) January 3, 2021
Held him hostage ffs
— F -JAY ❼ (@folarin_john) January 3, 2021
Just sell him to us for 40 mil now
— Alistair (@alistairldsouza) January 3, 2021
So basically he's admitting that he kept Sancho hostage
— ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ (@utdsood) January 3, 2021
come home sanchoooooo
— yan (@Maliksci) January 3, 2021
release him from this jail
— tim (@timoyeutd) January 3, 2021
admitting he wants to leave LMAO this guy chats so much waffle will be saying hes not for sale again in the summer probably
— Evan (@evh_2002) January 3, 2021
Let him join United I’m sure both clubs and himself knows that!
— Brandon (@BrandonUTD21) January 3, 2021
United are reportedly very unlikely to make another attempt to sign Sancho this month, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano stating any deal may well be delayed until the summer. That, however, may encourage other clubs, including the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, to enter the race for the England international.