Jurgen Klopp 'loves' Jadon Sancho - Dortmund insiders expected Liverpool to rival Man Utd

Posted Friday, September 11, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp 'loves' Jadon Sancho - Dortmund insiders expected transfer (Image: GETTY)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is said to be a huge fan of Manchester United target Jadon Sancho, with some Borussia Dortmund insiders having believed the player would move to Anfield.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp "loves" Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who Manchester United are currently trying hard to bring to the Premier League, and such is Klopp's admiration for the player, insiders at Dortmund believed he would be Anfield bound this summer.

That's according to Jan Aage Fjortoft, who has however admitted that he doesn't know who Sancho would prefer to join out of Liverpool and United if both clubs fought for his signature.

The Red Devils are believed to have made a breakthrough in negotiations with Sancho this week, with personal terms and agent fees agreed with the 20-year-old.

Dortmund however remain firm in their stance that Sancho will not leave the Westfalenstadion this summer for anything less than £108million.

United have offered to pay £90m up front with £18m in add-ons but the Bundesliga club are thought to want the £108m guaranteed and in full.

The coronavirus pandemic means United have no real competitors for the England international's future despite known interest from elsewhere.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea are all among the long-term admirers in the former Manchester City trainee.

If United do not broker a deal with Dortmund to sign Sancho this summer, those clubs could look to try and land the wide-man in 12 months' time.

And Fjortoft, who has close connections in the German top flight, insists Dortmund were expecting Liverpool to make a real attempt to sign Sancho, presumably before the COVID-19 crisis changed the landscape of the transfer window.

"What I have said is that insiders in Dortmund thought that Sancho would end up at Liverpool," the Norwegian journalist told Empire Of The Kop.

"They knew of course that the CEO of Dortmund, [Hans-Joachim] Watzke, and Klopp, are great friends.

"Of course, Klopp loves the player, but which manager wouldn’t? If he would prefer Liverpool or Manchester United? I have no clue!"

Asked about Sancho earlier this summer, the Liverpool boss said: "The red shirt [of Liverpool] would suit [Sancho] very well.

"I don't think such a transfer will be possible this season. He [Sancho] is a very interesting player.

"If he's coming to Liverpool I would be the most surprised of all of us."

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano insists meanwhile that Sancho is "buzzing" about the idea of moving to Old Trafford before October 5.

He said on his new podcast Here We Go: "My information is that Manchester United have the agreement with Jadon Sancho on his contract, commissions also for his agents.

"Sancho is buzzing to join Manchester United, because he decided months ago to talk about this opportunity.

"Jadon Sancho for his personal terms and his contract is ready to join Manchester United by weeks, by months.

"The problem is between the clubs, I want to clarify because I think it's normal that Manchester United have their position and I respect the position of the club.

"I want to speak about my info after speaking to many people involved in this transfer news about Jadon Sancho.

"The agreement between the player and Manchester United is not a problem.

"Now it is just down to Manchester United and what the club will decide to do.

"Borussia Dortmund have always said they want €120million and Manchester United were always convinced after the coronavirus that they could get the player for a lower fee for example €100milion with add-ons.

"At the moment this deal is in stand by because Manchester United have now called Borussia Dortmund or his agents to say you are free, or we are going for another because they are still trying to sign him."