Manchester United are unlikely to entertain any offers from Borussia Dortmund for the permanent transfer of Jadon Sancho if they attempt to include Donyell Malen as part of the deal, according to information obtained by 90min.
Sancho returned to Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 season in January after a falling out with United manager Erik ten Hag back in September. The rift stemmed from Ten Hag dropping Sancho from the matchday squad to face Arsenal, citing poor performances in training, which Sancho disputed on social media. Despite the disagreement, Dortmund agreed to re-sign Sancho on a straight loan basis during the January transfer window, paying United a €4m fee plus a portion of his wages.
The future of Sancho at United remains uncertain, with reports indicating his reluctance to return if Ten Hag remains in charge and his potential reintegration being more straightforward under a new manager, provided he receives an apology from Ten Hag.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Although Dortmund may consider signing Sancho permanently, recent reports across Europe suggesting a swap involving in-form forward Malen have been dismissed by sources close to the situation. United’s preference, if they were to sell Sancho, would be for a straightforward cash-only deal without player exchanges, as this would reflect better on their financial records and offer more flexibility in the transfer market. Additionally, United would aim to keep any potential incoming transfers separate from the Sancho deal and potentially delay them to the next financial year.
Malen has long been linked with United dating back to his time at PSV Eindhoven, and he has impressed at Dortmund, scoring 13 goals in 31 matches across all competitions this season. However, he recently dismissed suggestions of an exit as mere rumors.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently acquired a 28% stake in United, is still finalizing the club’s summer transfer plans. While they have identified areas for reinforcement, concrete progress has yet to be made, with Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise being one of the names on their radar.
Sancho, who has only recently returned to full sharpness after spending several months out of competitive action, scored his first goal back in a Dortmund shirt in their recent 2-1 win against Werder Bremen, with Malen also finding the net for BVB.