Sebastian Kehl backs Jadon Sancho to be a difference maker at Borussia Dortmund

Sebastian Kehl is confident that Jadon Sancho can play an important role for Borussia Dortmund this season, despite a difficult start since joining on loan from Manchester United.

Borussia Dortmund pulled off the spectacular return of Jadon Sancho in January, with the forward joining on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season. The Englishman marked his return with an assist, but has not been able to make the same impact he did during his first stint with the club.

Despite Sancho's recent struggles, Sebastian Kehl sees him as a difference maker. And the BVB sporting director is backing the 23 year old to come good in the coming weeks. "Jadon is not the old Jadon yet, but he can't be after not playing for six months. You have to give him time, he is a difference-maker and will be very important for us this season," Kehl said during his appearance on Sport1-Doppelpass.

Sebastian Kehl is also eager to keep Jadon Sancho, as well as fellow on-loan player Ian Maatsen at Borussia Dortmund beyond the end of the season. But he knows that a lot of money will be needed in order to do that, making permanent transfers for the duo rather unlikely. "In the end it will take money, a lot of money. Definitely more than we have at the moment, that's clear. We got over 80 million euros for Jadon. Manchester United will of course also have an interest in either bringing him back in the summer or selling him again in a deal that makes sense for them. Whether that also makes sense for us remains to be seen."

"Ian is under contract with Chelsea. They have neither economic issues, nor a problem finding a place for him in England. In other words, we will of course make an effort, but we will also have to wait and see how things develop. For us, qualifying for the Champions League is very, very important."

Both Sancho and Maatsen have featured regularly for Borussia Dortmund in recent weeks, and the latter scored his first goal in BVB colours this past weekend.