7 Players Who Could Replace Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund
By Josh Sim
With a number of Premier League clubs chasing him, it looks increasingly likely Jadon Sancho will be departing Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The England wonderkid has impressed many ever since he arrived from Manchester City in 2017, and his performances have led to the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and indeed City to mull over making a potentially record-breaking bid for the 20-year-old.
While much of the discussion has focussed on Sancho's next club, where does that leave his current one? Here's a list of potential replacements who could step up and fill the Sancho-less void at the Westfalenstadion, should he end up departing in the near future.
Ferran Torres
The latest to be linked with a move to Dortmund, Ferran Torres is an exciting attacking midfielder who would certainly fit into Lucien Favre's attacking system.
The Valencia man, who can also play as a right winger, loves to use his dribbling ability and speed to get past his opponent. A two-footed player, the Spaniard is equally comfortable in cutting inside on his left foot, as well as beating his marker on the outside as well.
He's only completed fewer dribbles (80) than Martin Ødegaard this season for players under 21, and has four assists, ranking third on the list of players from the same age.
If Dortmund are to sign Torres, they'll need to beat off many of Europe's best, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool also supposedly interested in the 20-year-old.
Despite his release clause currently set at €100m, his contract is set to expire in 2021, and Los Ches could be willing to sell him for a much-reduced fee, which will certainly create a bidding war for the young Spaniard.
Milot Rashica
In what's been a hugely disappointing season for Werder Bremen, Milot Rashica has stood out as an exciting talent.
The Kosovo international is an old-school winger, who likes to take on defenders in wide areas, and get crosses in for his waiting teammates. Yet he's recently become more of an inside forward, tending to cut inside on his right foot from the opposite flank.
He ranks in the top ten for most shots taken in the Bundesliga this season, and has seven goals to his name, along with four assists.
Rashica could shine at Signal Iduna Park, with his game possessing an unpredictable nature that will excite fans, similar to that of Sancho's. His release clause is currently set at €38m, and with Die Grün-Weißen on the verge of relegation, he'll be keen to leave the club, in order to remain playing at the highest level.
Liverpool have also been linked.
Jonathan David
One of the most in-demand European attackers around at the moment, Jonathan David could be an exciting addition to Dortmund's talented squad.
The 20-year-old is a similar player to Thomas Müller, in that he will find spaces to exploit and punish opposing defences. Also able to play on the right flank, he can use his pace to get behind full-backs, and time his runs into the box to perfection, where his superb finishing skills come into play.
He currently leads tops the goalscoring charts in the Jupiler Pro League with 18 strikes, and the Canadian international is also in the top five for assists with a total of 8.
David would stand out to fans of Die Borussen for his versatility, and would certainly be a cheaper alternative to the aforementioned duo, with his release clause set at around €20m.
However, with the likes of Arsenal, Inter and Man Utd also interested in the Gent forward, a bidding war would certainly ensue in the race to secure his signature.
Calvin Stengs
The latest Dutch attacking talent to emerge, Calvin Stengs will certainly be a good choice to replace the large assist tally Sancho's departure will take away from Der BVB.
The winger, who can also play centrally as a number ten, tends to roam and create a dangerous situation out of nothing, using his intelligence and passing ability to good effect. His playing style is similar to Ángel Di María, in the sense that he's not necessarily quick, but will cause problems with his positioning and dribbling skills.
Currently playing for AZ Alkmaar, he's in the top five for assists in the Eredivisie with seven to his name, and is also in the top ten in the league for the average number of key passes made in a game (2.4).
Stengs would be an intriguing option amongst Dortmund's wide array of attacking arsenal, and would cost around €20m. Yet with Barcelona also said to be interested in the 21-year-old, Die Schwarzgelben would need to act quickly to gain the Dutchman's services.
Emmanuel Dennis
Another attacking talent playing in Belgium, Emmanuel Dennis is an exciting prospect that could develop into a star at the Westfalenstadion.
A striker with rapid pace and the ability to hold up the ball for others, the 22-year-old is flexible enough that he can also play on the right wing. He's best when he latches onto through-balls past defenders, and can even be relied upon to work hard defensively too.
The Nigeria international impressed with his brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this season, and has eight goals in all competitions.
Certainly, the forward shouldn't be considered the finished product, with there being plenty of areas in which he needs to develop further.
Nevertheless, should Dortmund opt to sign Dennis, they'll have to overcome rival interest from the likes of AS Monaco, Brighton and Newcastle, who made a failed offer for him in January. He's said to be available at a fee of €25m, which could be the right price to pay for an emerging talent.
Javairô Dilrosun
It would be a fun concidence if Dortmund opted to replace Sancho with a former City teammate of his, in choosing the winger Javairô Dilrosun.
The 21-year-old has shown the occasional glimpse of his explosiveness, with his quick speed and dribbling ability making him a constant threat to defenders - with 73% of his total dribbles for the season considered successful.
Yet he's struggled to put on consistent performances during his time at Hertha Berlin so far, with his decision-making and passing ability at times letting him down in the final third.
Nevertheless, Dilrosun has shown he could develop into becoming a lethal winger, and Favre could certainly work with him to improve his game further. It would certainly be a more risky signing, but his value wouldn't be too high, and Dortmund could find themselves another diamond in the rough with the Dutchman.
Cesar Gelabert
Perhaps the least well-known of the bunch, Cesar Gelabert could be a sneakily good signing for Die Borussen.
The Real Madrid youngster is yet to play for the senior team, but is regarded by observers to be one of the finest youngsters currently on their books. And having impressed in the UEFA Youth League for Los Blancos, his displays have attracted the attention of Der BVB, who have used the tournament to discover the likes of Sancho in the past.
The 19-year-old could be available for a minimal fee too, with his contract expiring in 2021. Yet should the forward decide his future lies outside of the Santiago Bernabéu, the Bundesliga side would have to battle for his signature with Arsenal and Lyon; the Ligue 1 club already having an offer turned down for him in the past.
Yet much like Sancho, Gelabert could be a worthwhile signing for Dortmund, who could once again convince another teenager with world-class talent, to come over to the Westfalenstadion.