Jadon Sancho is “brutally good” for his age and his talent level is reminiscent of Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele, according to Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.
Dortmund sit top of the Bundesliga table after six matches and the 18-year-old Sancho has emerged as a key contributor, registering more assists (five) than anyone else in the division despite making all of his six appearances as a substitute and playing a grand total of 125 minutes.
Sancho’s blistering start to the season has led to calls for Gareth Southgate to include the former Manchester City prospect in his next England squad, and Zorc compared the winger to Dembele, who was signed by Barcelona for £135.5 million in August 2017.
“Jadon could still play in the under-19s,” Zorc said. “He's brutally good, he can do things I have rarely seen.
“Even though he is a different player type - the extent to which his actions are not to defend - he reminds me of Ousmane Dembele.”
Sancho has been regarded as one of English football’s most exciting young talents for many years, and City saw off stiff competition from several of their Premier League rivals to poach him from Watford’s academy as a 14-year-old in March 2015.
But after growing disillusioned about his chances of breaking into the first team under Pep Guardiola, Sancho turned down an offer of a new contract from City in the summer of 2017 and was omitted from the club’s preseason tour squad, before sealing an £8 million move to Dortmund on the final day of the transfer window.
Sancho made 12 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund last season, contributing one goal and four assists – numbers he has already surpassed in the opening weeks of this campaign.
Germany is becoming an increasingly attractive development option for talented English youngsters; Everton winger Ademola Lookman shone on loan at RB Leipzig in the second half of last season, while Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson has made an encouraging start to life on loan at Hoffenheim.
