Chelsea signed Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United last summer, but that was not the first time that they showed interest in him.
After a promising start, Sancho‘s loan is not exactly going to plan. In fact, it is now being claimed that Chelsea could terminate their agreement to buy Sancho at the end of the season, showing just how dissatisfied they are starting to become.
Regardless, the winger has always had admirers at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues targeting him back in 2020 when he was still at Borussia Dortmund.
In the end, though, Chelsea went on to sign Kai Havertz in a transfer that the club will not regret.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Chelsea feared Jadon Sancho preferred a move to Manchester United
United do not want Sancho at present, allowing him to join Chelsea on an initial loan deal last summer.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to move on from Sancho and the Red Devils’ other failed signings, but there was a time where the 24-year-old was really wanted at Old Trafford.
According to ESPN, Chelsea actually turned to Havertz after coming to the conclusion that Sancho had his heart set on a move to their Premier League rivals.
The same outlet also claims that Frank Lampard was a big fan of Havertz’s versatility, with the German able to play as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward or winger.
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Havertz has since gone on to leave Chelsea for their London rivals Arsenal, scoring two goals against his former club last season.
Havertz had no problem with celebrating those goals, so there is a little bit of bad blood between the 25-year-old and some Chelsea supporters.
However, it was Havertz who won Chelsea their second Champions League trophy after scoring the winner in the 2021 final against Manchester City. It is why his transfer should still be viewed positively.
Photo by Richard Callis/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Callis/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea got the much better deal
Havertz definitely did not fulfil his potential at Chelsea. His managers could not even identify his best position.
He obviously did enjoy some success at the Bridge, though, and cost roughly the same amount as Sancho, who has really struggled at United.
Ultimately, signing Havertz instead of Sancho worked out well for Chelsea and it will now be interesting to see what they do with the latter who has now become their problem.