"AN ABSOLUTE DIFFERENCE MAKER"

Jadon Sancho Borussia Dortmund 2024Getty Images

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl described Sancho as "an absolute difference-maker" after brokering the loan deal with United, which was certainly true in his first spell at Signal Iduna Park. Sancho hit 50 goals and laid on 57 assists in 137 appearances for BVB between 2017 and 2021, after making the brave decision to leave Manchester City's academy and build a new life in Germany.

He was a deadly weapon for Dortmund during that period, as through a combination of dazzling trickery on the ball and intelligence he was able to carve defences open at will, and more often than not had the end product to match. When United finally secured his signature after nearly two years of negotiations, it felt like a major coup.

A difference maker of borrusia Dortmund 

But the Old Trafford faithful have yet to see that version of Sancho up close. He's had his moments, the most notable of which saw him score a superb solo goal in a 2-1 victory over Liverpool last season, but he has largely flatted to deceive.

Sancho is a confidence player, and he's seemingly never been operating with a full tank in Manchester. Those struggles haven't gone away since his return to Dortmund either, which is somewhat understandable given he spent the best part of five months training alone after his fall out with Ten Hag.