Club’s sporting director admits signing United loanee permanently is unrealistic and would be ‘very difficult’

Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl has admitted the prospect of making Jadon Sancho’s loan deal permanent in the summer is unrealistic.

The Manchester United winger rejoined his former club at the beginning of January in search of his first competitive minutes of football since August 26. After that, his widely-covered public feud with Erik ten Hag began and, after accusing his manager of lying about his performances in training, Sancho saw himself exiled from all first-team action and facilities.

He was welcomed back to the Signal Iduna Park with open arms by a number of familiar faces and got off to an almost dream start when assisting ex-captain Marco Reus on his second debut.

The 23-year-old followed it up with another assist against FC Koln in his second outing and then played 83 minutes at home to VfL Bochum before sustaining a muscle injury, which kept him out of Dortmund’s last match.

It remains to be seen where Sancho’s future lies beyond the summer. Should Ten Hag still be in the dugout, it’s unlikely the pair will bury the hatchet given that there was no apology made from August through to January.

Kehl talks Sancho sale

Kehl lifted the lid on the possibility of acquiring the Englishman’s signature again in the summer – three years on from his £73 million exit to Old Trafford – and acknowledged that the odds are stacked against Dortmund when it comes to transfers.

He told Sky Germany: “Unfortunately for both players [Sancho and Ian Maatsen], neither option [a buy option in the loan terms] was really realistic.

“If you know what we got for Jadon Sancho two and a half years ago, then you know also that it might now be very, very difficult. We naturally advocated for an option with him – and also with Ian – but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it and so we will accept it for now.”