Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says he tried to sign Jadon Sancho

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed that he tried to sign Jadon Sancho during his time at RB Leipzig but was rejected by the young winger.

Despite being offered a lucrative contract at Manchester City in 2017, Sancho left the Premier League club in search of valuable first-team experience and eventually landed in Dortmund.

Dortmund’s pursuit was, however, contested by RB Leipzig at the time and now Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has admitted that he was involved in efforts to convince Sancho of a move to Leipzig.

Read more: Fabrizio Romano gives positive update on Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes

“I know Jadon very well,” he told Sky Sports, via Football Daily. “We were sitting one on the table when we wanted to bring him to RB Leipzig.

“We met each other in London to negotiate with him. But we haven’t been big enough as a club for him. But we were in the right place I think. Definitely, I wanted to have him in Leipzig.

“He would fit perfectly in Leipzig in our speed-oriented game. And finally, he decided to go to Dortmund – it was a little disappointing for us but he shows his quality.”

Sancho joined Manchester United earlier this summer in a tediously drawn-out deal but an agreement with Borussia Dortmund was finally found during this summer’s European Championship.

After four years in Germany, which included two goals and an assist in last season’s DFB Pokal final, the 21-year-old made his Premier League debut last week as against Leeds as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side comfortably swept aside Leeds United.

More Stories Borussia Dortmund Jadon Sancho Manchester United Ralph Hasenhuttl RB Leipzig