During the international break, club football takes the backseat. However, with these breaks losing more and more interest as time goes on, seemingly; supporters tend to discuss their clubs more than their international loyalties regardless.
A topic that has been hot within the Chelsea space this week has been the future of Jadon Sancho. The Blues signed Sancho on a season-long loan deal from Manchester United in the summer, with an obligation to buy the winger for £25million at the end of his contract. However, news broke in recent days that there is an option for Chelsea to pay a small fee for Sancho to stay at United.
His form has deteriorated massively since the turn of the year and has led to some uncomfortable conversations among supporters. That is why we got our team of Chelsea writers to discuss and debate what they would do in the Sancho situation, and you can read their thoughts below:
Bobby Vincent
A difficult one, this, because plenty of football is to do with recency bias. I was very much in favour of Chelsea signing Sancho, a clearly very talented footballer, at the time. Sancho did not disappoint in his first few months and despite not having an insane output in front of goal, he was adding plenty to Enzo Maresca's system.
There is no denying, however, that the United loanee has been significantly below par in 2025. Against Copenhagen a week ago, the winger recorded his first shot on target in over three months. He simply has not done enough in the attacking third and that is why this chatter has even come about.
Saying that, though, I still believe he can be a really effective tool for Chelsea but trying to get him to be just that is the challenge. At the moment, he is playing mostly on the left wing and is not coming inside anywhere near enough. Is there a shout for him to drift in and be a more central option?
Maresca will be telling him to stay wide, to try and make the pitch as big as possible, so Chelsea always have options when in possession. This, however, is effectively sacrificing Sancho's game. He needs to have more shots, he needs to get more involved and he needs to make more runs in behind.
Even though the cheaper option is to pay the small fee and not take the chance to sign him on a permanent basis, that is not what I would do. It might sound contradictory somewhat, but I think it makes more business sense to sign him for good in the summer because at least that way the club will be getting another option on the left wing, with the future of Mykhailo Mudryk uncertain. We all know Chelsea are going to try and strengthen in that area anyway, so Sancho will have competition.
Equally, I still back someone of Sancho's calibre to come good between now and the end of the season. He needs to as well.
Verdict: Keep.
Tom Coley
Up until Christmas, even with a lack of goals in his game, Sancho looked like a steal for Chelsea at the maximum price of £25million. Since then he has hit a rut which is in line with the team's wider failings.
Sancho is not just underperforming on an individual level but he is falling spectacularly below what Maresca needs from a winger. He is not dangerous one-on-one, he is not shooting, and he is not quick enough to even scare defenders with the thought of running in behind.
The reality is that he has never really been this sort of player which reflects poorly on those who saw him as a good addition. Sancho has been useful but has also shown just how much spark Maresca requires from his wingers.
With Estevao Willian arriving in the summer, Geovany Quenda coming in after that, and Chelsea still being keen to look at dynamic attackers, Sancho faces tough competition. Had Chelsea agreed to have Sancho on a dry loan then they wouldn't be looking to buy him now, which says it all.
Paying to not keep him is poor business but paying to then be stuck with a player who does not suit the style is perhaps worse. Maybe Chelsea could try to flip Sancho, but it seems unlikely. Manchester United couldn't find suitors for him at £40million over the summer and his performances haven't warranted that level of investment here.
Chelsea need to be ruthless. Sancho isn't working and they can do better. It may well cost but it should be worth it in the long run.
Verdict: Get rid.
Sam Truelove
Sancho is not a bad player. He's an incredibly gifted player, in fact, but you can't help but think he can do much more. The Englishman has made 29 appearances for Chelsea this season and has eight goal contributions (two goals and six assists).
It's not a bad return in his 1732 minutes on the pitch, but is it good enough for a club like Chelsea? Considering the Blues have agreed to pay Manchester United £25m for the winger in the summer, I think it's decent value. The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and who else can Chelsea bring in for that amount of money (ludicrous, I know).
Essentially, then, I would sign Sancho permanently in the summer if I were Chelsea. His value should not decrease in the coming years.
In fact, it will probably go the other way if he does indeed impress at Stamford Bridge. Sancho needs time on the pitch to really prove his worth and I'm backing him to fulfil his potential in the 2025/26 season.
Verdict: Keep.