Dortmund pave the way for Sancho exit

Borussia Dortmund are looking at transfer targets to replace Jadon Sancho, who will be allowed to leave in the summer.

Sancho, 19, has been on Manchester United’s wanted list since establishing himself in the Bundesliga and will also attract interest from clubs at the top of the Premier League and Spain.

Dortmund are now expected to sell the forward in the summer, when his value could increase further depending on his performances for England in the European Championship.

Sancho is expected to break the record fee paid by an English club, Paul Pogba’s £89million move from Juventus to Manchester United. His deal could get closer to the overall record Premier League deal of £142 million for Philippe Coutinho to sign for Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018.

Dortmund wanted to keep Sancho for the whole of this season to maximise his value. The German club believe January is a difficult window in which to do business and would not have achieved the £100 million-plus at which they value him.

They are known to be meticulous in their transfer planning and signed Thorgan Hazard, Julian Brandt and Nico Schulz days after the end of last season for a combined £62.75million.

Now plans are under way to get Sancho’s replacement ready for next season and allow the former Manchester City youngster to leave. Dortmund will make a huge profit on the £8million they paid for him three years ago.

Michael Zorc, Dortmund’s sporting director, has revealed City have “matching rights” to any bid that goes in for Sancho as part of the deal that took him to Germany. Sancho would appear a like-for-like replacement for Leroy Sane, whose future is uncertain.