Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Paul Lambert has claimed that Jadon Sancho would be better off staying at the German outfit rather than moving to Manchester United.

The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford when the transfer window reopens, with the Red Devils understood to be leading a competitive race for his signature.

A who's who of Europe's top clubs are interested in the England international, but Lambert insists that he is already at one of the continent's elite teams and warned that the atmosphere at United would not be better than what he is used to at the Westfalenstadion.

"Sancho is already at one of the biggest clubs in the world, which gets over 80,000 for every league game. So, potentially, the lad has a big decision to make. Dortmund is a special club and you only realise it once you leave. United are one of the biggest clubs in the world but is the atmosphere at Old Trafford as good as the Westfalenstadion? The answer is no," Ipswich Town manager Lambert is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"He will have to ask himself will he fit in with the right players if he leaves. Will he keep making progress? Dortmund will be in the Champions League but we are not yet sure about United and whether they will be. If he comes home, it should be for football or family reasons, not money.

"It is a big thing going to a country when you cannot speak the language. You have to master German, out of respect to your teammates. Sancho has done well. He is so direct in one versus ones. He has good speed but he is a clever footballer. Every time Dortmund score, you know that either Sancho has got the goal or had an assist."

Sancho has scored 17 goals and assisted 19 more in 26 games across all competitions for Dortmund this season.