Jadon Sancho of Chelsea FC holds the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Stamford Bridge on October 06, 2024
Sancho has hit form at Chelsea this season
Jadon Sancho looks to have found his feet at Chelsea – and his positive form will have caused a headache for Manchester United and Ruben Amorim thanks to what now looks like a contract blunder.
The 24-year-old's budding career looked to be fizzling out following his mega money move to United in July 2022. From capturing domestic silverware to winning a host of personal accolades with Borussia Dortmund, the young England man looked set to take his career to the next level when he moved to Old Trafford.
However, a rocky start bloomed into a full blown crisis as the £73million starlet saw himself banished from the first team set-up by former United manager Erik ten Hag, following a series of public bust ups. A loan return to Dortmund for the second half of last season looked to have sparked the winger into life once more, however, he soon found himself back at United and on the hunt for a new home.
Enzo Maresca's Chelsea made headlines during the summer with their extravagant spending spree reaching beyond £200m. Their Transfer Deadline Day loan capture of Sancho even went largely under the radar until the former Manchester City youngster bagged an assist for the Blues on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth.
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Sancho has played 10 times for Maresca's team this season, while claiming two goals and five assists as Chelsea sit second in the Premier League. United boss Amorim will be exasperated to learn that the Blues can also trigger an obligation to buy Sancho for a cut-price fee worth between £20-£25m should they finish at least 14th in the table.
With second-placed Chelsea well in the hunt for the title and 12 points above United down in 13th already, it's now looking likely that Amorim will not get a chance to work with the winger at all, given the west London side are expected to exercise the clause. Sancho's move to Stamford Bridge seemed a good fit for United on paper, however, his surprising return to form will now be giving the Red Devils pangs of regret as Amorim scrambles to find a suitor out wide for his 3-4-3 system.
The Portuguese head coach has tried out a host of options on the flanks. From Amad and Antony to Tyrell Malacia and Diogo Dalot, Amorim's first five games in charge have seen the club's new head coach struggle for an answer to his wing problem, and it no longer looks like Sancho could be an answer to his prayers down the line.
While Sancho has predominantly featured on the left flank for Maresca, he did register two assists from the right in a Europa League tie victory over Bundesliga side Heidenheim. He also played the majority of his football for Dortmund out on the right, scoring 38 of his 67 goals for the club there.
While Amorim could well be cursing the United hierarchy for Sancho's loan deal clause, his Chelsea counterpart is thrilled with his new acquisition. After Sancho lit up the pitch in a 4-3 win over Tottenham at the weekend – a game in which the 24-year-old scored a wonder strike to start the Blues' comeback – Maresca spoke in glowing terms over his winger.
Ruben Amorim may not be able to work with Sancho next season
"Since we started, the reason why Jadon came here is because we think Jadon is going to help us," Maresca said. "Unfortunately he had small problems so he was out for a while. Now he is back and the only thing he has to do is continue in the same way. He cannot drop, otherwise he is not going to play."
Meanwhile, it looks like Sancho has rediscovered his joy for the game. "From day one, they made me feel welcome at Chelsea," Sancho told Super Sport TV.
"I know that I have a lot of people to prove wrong. I've been working very hard. Let me say thank you to the staff and the team for believing in me and giving me the opportunity."
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