Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl is certain Jadon Sancho will settle easily at the club
With the loan deal for Jadon Sancho now very much official, Borussia Dortmund have brought in their main attacking reinforcement for the the next half a season. Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl has hailed Sancho in the aftermath of the completed deal, stating that he will be able to make his mark at Dortmund again very quickly:
"Jadon is an absolute difference-maker and I'm looking forward to seeing him back in black and yellow soon. He knows this city, Signal Iduna Park, our fans and our club. Even though he hasn't played any competitive games in recent months, we are sure that he will quickly settle back in with us, get back to his best and use his qualities to help us achieve our goals for the season."
- Sebastian Kehl
Kehl’s assessment is not unfounded considering Sancho’s first stint with the club. The player chipped in with 50 goals and 64 assists across 137 appearances for the club. It is this form that endeared him to the fans so much, as he played a critical role in the clubs success over that period, most notably in the club’s 2021 DFB Pokal triumph over RB Leipzig.
"When I walked into the dressing room today, it felt like 'coming home'. I know the club inside out, I've always been very close to the fans here and I've never lost contact with the people in charge. I can't wait to see my teammates again, go out on the pitch, play soccer with a smile on my face, set up goals, score goals and help them qualify for the Champions League"
- Jadon Sancho
Sancho, according to his own words, seems ready to play an important role on the football pitch again. He comes in at a time where Dortmund are struggling to really find their feet on the Bundesliga, with the club currently sat outside of the Champions League spots. It is the hope of everyone that Kehl’s backing of Sancho truly leads to the temporary transfer being a success in the short term.
In the long term however, the move will be judged on what the club does after the loan expires. Due to Manchester United’s likely plan, (to have Dortmund revive Sancho, and for them to get a hefty fee in the summer), it is currently unlikely that Dortmund will be able to retain Sancho’s services beyond this season.
The promise of Champions League qualification comes with added finances and the allure of playing at the pinnacle of European competition; both of which will be crucial in Dortmund’s pursuit of a possible successor. Who Dortmund bring in at that time will also play a role in how Sancho’s loan move is measured, as it is crucial that the club seeks a permanent solution that assists them from landing in a similar position in the table at the same time next year.
In an interview that took place today with Ruhr Nachrichten entitled "19:09- der schwarzgelbe Talk", Kehl noted that he wants to help in the further development of the club, stating the following:
"I'm really keen to develop the club further, to drive strategic things forward and to take BVB to the next level. We are working in a difficult financial environment...we often take half a step backwards when we regularly have to sell our best players."
- Sebastian Kehl
Next. How Jadon Sancho might fit in at Borussia Dortmund after spectacular return from Manchester United. How Jadon Sancho might fit in at Borussia Dortmund after spectacular return from Manchester United. dark
While the financial environment is certainly a difficult and precarious one to navigate, to succeed Dortmund have to do so in a creative manner. The Sancho loan, for now, is a stop-gap to help the team get back on track, but it will take more more than patch-work temporary transfers for Kehl and the club to see Dortmund make the proper steps forward.