Exclusive: Tuchel's secret Ratcliffe meeting could change Sancho's Manchester United fate

Borussia Dortmund want to keep hold of Jadon Sancho for another year...

Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of holding on to Jadon Sancho for another year on loan may have taken a huge hit.

Christian Falk exclusively revealed that Thomas Tuchel has already discussed how he’d get the best out of the England international were he to take over from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer.

“The German coach is said to have revealed his plans if he were to take over the coaching position in the event of Erik ten Hag (54) being fired. One plan concerns, of all people, Dortmund loan player Jadon Sancho (24),” Bild’s Head of Football wrote for the Daily Briefing.

“Accordingly, Tuchel is said to have explained to the United co-owner how he could get United's sporting problems like Sancho and Mason Mount (22) back on track. Manchester paid Dortmund 85 million euros for Sancho in 2021 and 64 million euros to Chelsea for Mount in 2023. Both professionals were unable to meet the high expectations under ten Hag and fell far short of their performances at their former clubs.

“Bitter for Borussia: Dortmund would like to loan Sancho for another year. The professional himself should also be able to imagine another season in Dortmund after his career break in Manchester and his good BVB season with his entry into the Champions League final. As United’s next potential coach, Tuchel would make the Sancho deal considerably more difficult.”

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a productive campaign in his return to German football, registering five goal contributions in 14 Bundesliga games in 2023/24.

Why did Jadon Sancho return to Dortmund?

The £74m winger found himself frozen out by Ten Hag after a contentious post on social media - in which Sancho accused the Red Devils boss of having made him a ‘scapegoat’ - and his subsequent refusal to apologise.

Fast forward to January, after having not played a senior game for Manchester United since a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest in August, and the forward found himself being shipped back to Germany on loan.

It’s a return that has, ultimately, rather suited Sancho in light of the criticism he was facing for his performances in England since his 2021 summer switch to Old Trafford.

What next for Sancho and Manchester United?

That entirely depends on how Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. choose to handle the future of Erik ten Hag.

Dortmund’s interest in Sancho is very clear, though they are reportedly unable to cover the kind of fee it would take to permanently prise the Englishman away from Manchester United this summer.

Of course, if Tuchel can convince the club’s hierarchy that he is capable of turning around the maligned winger’s mixed career in Manchester, there is a world in which the Red Devils will oppose the exit - no matter what form it takes.

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