Sancho lost fluency over Man Utd rumours —Dortmund boss

Jadon Sancho “lost fluency” over transfer speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United in the summer, admits Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, but feels he is getting back to his best.

England international Sancho, United’s top transfer target in the summer, scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season on Sunday as Dortmund returned from the winter break with a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg.

It was the 20-year-old’s first in his 12th league appearance this season – a marked decline from last term when he had 17 – and Dortmund’s Watzke feels his change in form was down to the intense media speculation surrounding his future.

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Sancho came close to a move to Old Trafford, but talks came to a halt over disagreements on personal terms and agent fees, and since the 2020/21 campaign started he has five goals and nine assists in 19 games across all competitions.

“Jadon had probably already subconsciously prepared himself a little bit for a change,” Watzke told German magazine Kicker.

“I think he had at least thought about it so much that he lost his fluency. But I’ve felt he’s been trying very hard for weeks. Things will pick up again very quickly. He is still one of the greatest talents there is.”

Sancho’s team-mate Erling Haaland, who has the same agent as United midfielder Paul Pogba, has enjoyed better form this season, knocking up 17 goals in 15 games across all competitions.