Borussia Dortmund squad ‘happy’ that ‘important’ Jadon Sancho is staying, says Axel Witsel

Jadon Sancho and Manchester United transfer target Jadon Sancho in Borussia Dortmund training — Axel Witsel says Borussia Dortmund players are glad Jadon Sancho is staying (Picture: Getty)

Axel Witsel says everyone at Borussia Dortmund is delighted that Jadon Sancho is staying after sporting director Michael Zorc announced that the club have no plans to sell the forward to Manchester United.

United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward have prioritised a move for Sancho this summer and the 20-year-old has reportedly reached an agreement over a £220,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford.

But the Red Devils missed Dortmund’s deadline of August 5 to meet Sancho’s €120million (£107.8m) asking price and the England attacker has flown out to Switzerland with the rest of Lucien Favre’s squad for pre-season training.

Zorc yesterday confirmed that Dortmund are now planning for the 2020/21 campaign with Sancho in their squad and that the ‘decision was final’ on the youngster’s future.

The BVB chief even claimed that Sancho had secretly extended his deal to 2023 and Witsel is glad the transfer saga appears to have been put to bed for the time being.

‘He stays and we are all happy,’ the Dortmund and Belgium midfielder told Sky Sports.

‘Last year and the first year when I came he’s one of the most important players offensively for our team.

‘This is really good news for us to keep him – at a minimum – one more season.’

Michael Zorc speaks at Borussia Dortmund's training camp — Zorc says the ‘decision is final’ on Sancho’s future (Picture: Getty)

Mats Hummels echoed these thoughts in a brief chat with Dortmund’s official website after Zorc’s shock announcement.

‘He can be the player who makes the difference,’ the Germany centre-back said.

‘I’m happy that he is staying.’

Jadon Sancho winks at the camera while in Borussia Dortmund training — Dortmund are demanding a fee of €120m for the England attacker (Picture: Getty)

It’s understood United have grown ‘frustrated’ with Dortmund’s stubbornness but have not yet given up hope of landing the Manchester City academy graduate.

Owen Hargreaves took Zorc’s statement with a pinch of salt and has suggested BVB may be ‘bluffing’ to squeeze more money out of United.

The former United and Bayern Munich midfielder told BT Sport: ‘Bluff. I’m calling their bluff.

‘I think he will be a Manchester United player in a pretty short time. They’re trying to get a bit more money out of it. That’s the nature of the beast.

‘Obviously they know United are really interested, they’re pretty heavy into negotiations. I think they’re bluffing. they know he’s going to leave at that price.’

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