Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre has suggested that the speculation surrounding Jadon Sancho over the summer could have played a role in the attacker's slow start to the 2020-21 campaign.
Sancho was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window, but the Red Devils could not come to an agreement with BVB, who are said to have refused to drop their £108m asking price.
The England international has only scored once in six appearances for Dortmund this season, and Favre has conceded that the recent transfer talk could still be a distraction despite the window closing.
"Every player has slow periods," Favre told reporters. "There was a lot of talk about Jadon in the summer, something like that can also have an influence.
"But no player is consistently in top form for a year, that's impossible. You have to accept that."
Sancho is still believed to be a leading target for United, although Liverpool and Bayern Munich could also allegedly join the hunt next summer.
The former Manchester City youngster has a contract at Signal Iduna Park until June 2023.
Matt Law
