Borussia Dortmund are advancing in their efforts to re-sign winger Jadon Sancho on a free transfer this summer, with Aston Villa remaining as a competing option for the former Manchester United player. According to sources close to the negotiations, Dortmund have moved into pole position after head coach Niko Kovac made direct contact with Sancho to outline his tactical plans, a move that has reportedly been received positively by the player and his representatives.
Sancho will become a free agent on July 1 after Manchester United decided against triggering a one-year extension clause in his contract. The decision confirms a total financial loss on the £73 million fee United paid Dortmund to sign him in 2021. The 26-year-old is now evaluating his next move, with formal offers from the two interested clubs expected in the coming weeks.
The personal intervention from Kovac is understood to have been a significant factor in Dortmund's renewed push. The Croatian manager, who took charge earlier this year, has detailed how Sancho would fit into his system at Signal Iduna Park. While financial terms are still being structured, it is expected Sancho would become one of Dortmund's highest earners, albeit on a salary substantially reduced from his reported £250,000-a-week wages at Old Trafford.
Despite Dortmund's confidence, Aston Villa have not withdrawn from the race. Sources indicate Sancho holds manager Unai Emery in high regard, and the feeling is mutual, which keeps the Premier League club in contention. Villa could also present a more lucrative financial package than Dortmund, though it would still fall short of his previous United earnings. The club's ability to offer Champions League football next season is also seen as a key part of their pitch.
Sancho's career has been in need of a reboot following a difficult three-year spell at Manchester United, where he scored just 12 goals in 82 appearances across all competitions. His return to Dortmund on loan in the second half of last season, where he contributed four goals and two assists, demonstrated flashes of the form that once made him one of Europe's most coveted young attackers. A permanent return to the Bundesliga, where he previously thrived, is viewed by many as a logical step to revive his career.
For Dortmund, securing Sancho on a free transfer represents a potential coup, bringing back a player familiar with the club's culture and still in his prime years. For Aston Villa, his signature would be a statement of intent as they look to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts under Emery. A final decision from Sancho is anticipated within the next few weeks, bringing clarity to one of the summer's most prominent free-agent sagas.
