Jadon Sancho could return to Manchester United this summerJadon Sancho could return to Manchester United this summer
Jadon Sancho could return to Manchester United this summer | Getty Images
Man Utd forward Jadon Sancho could return to the club in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United hoped the Jadon Sancho saga was finally over when he joined Chelsea on loan last summer, but he could yet end up back at Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge on an initial season-long loan deal, which included an obligation to make the move permanent for a fee between £20million and £25million this summer. That is still the case, but it has now been confirmed Chelsea can disregard the obligation to purchase Sancho outright if they are happy to pay a penalty instead.
The Athletic claim Chelsea will have to pay United a £5million fee if they do not complete the deal, a penalty payment agreed between the two clubs last summer. Sancho grabbed assists in his first three Premier League appearances for the club but has managed just two goals and on assist in the 20 subsequent league appearances. It leaves Chelsea with a difficult decision to make ahead of the summer window.
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What Ruben Amorim said about Jadon Sancho
United's preference is still for Sancho to join Chelsea permanently this summer, though every option is on the table at this moment in time. If he does end up heading back to Old Trafford, it is understood Ruben Amorim will be given the final say to decide whether they should look to sell him or reintegrate him into the first-team squad.
Speaking in a press conference last month, Amorim was quizzed on the possibility of Sancho returning to the squad at the end of the season. “I don’t know. I’m just focused on my players and my problems. Sancho is not my problem," he told reporters ahead of the defeat to Tottenham. "I’m really focused on beating Tottenham and using all the players we have to achieve that. No, no. I’m really focused on this season. We have a lot to do and a lot to improve. We need to win games and then we will see next season.”
Manchester United face £20m hit
There is a crumb of comfort in the fact United would earn a guaranteed £5m if Sancho returns to the club this summer, but it would add an element of uncertainty towards their summer spending. The club had banked on receiving as much as £25m from his permanent sale and would effectively be £20m behind schedule before the window even opened. United should still be able to move him on permanently if required, though they might not get as much as Chelsea had offered a year ago.
Speaking back in January, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca gave a positive review of his loan spell: “For me he’s doing very well. I am quite surprised with Jadon, because I knew Jadon already [from seeing him at his previous clubs] and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well.
“Apart from a short part of the season when he had some problems, when he was out ill, then for the rest he has been very good. I expected him to do well, but for all the players doing well for a long period is not easy, and he has been doing well for a long period already. He’s doing well, now he just needs to continue going in that way.”
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