Manchester United's Jadon Sancho has spent the season on loan at Chelsea
Manchester United's Jadon Sancho has spent the season on loan at Chelsea
Jadon Sancho's Manchester United long-term future is uncertain. The 24-year-old joined Chelsea on a season-long loan last August with an obligation to buy for £25million.
However, it has since been revealed that Chelsea can opt out of the agreement by paying United £5m instead and sending Sancho back to Old Trafford at the end of the campaign. At this stage, it's unclear whether Chelsea are going to honour the obligation or decide not to keep the England international.
After enjoying a positive start to life at Stamford Bridge, Sancho's form has declined over the last couple of months. In fact, he hasn't directly contributed to a goal since January 4 and his performances have concerned some at Chelsea, though head coach Enzo Maresca has continued to pick him.
GIVEMESPORT has since reported that Chelsea are more likely to honour the obligation and then sell him in the same transfer window. It's added that Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are among those queuing up to land him this summer following his previous experiences in the Bundesliga.
But where should Sancho's future lie? Here, our Manchester Evening News writers take a look at his current predicament and if he should leave United on a permanent deal this summer...
Kieran King
For me, Sancho should leave the Premier League and join a Bundesliga club on a permanent deal. It's clear that throughout his career he has had the most success in Germany. During his first spell at Dortmund, Sancho scored 50 goals and added 62 assists in 137 appearances.
He then enjoyed a second spell at Dortmund last season after returning to the club on loan from United - two-and-a-half years on from his £73m switch to Old Trafford. Sancho helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final, making 21 appearances across all competitions.
While he has showed in glimpses that he can be a top level Premier League player, Sancho has not been consistent enough and a move to the Bundesliga could help him re-establish himself at the top level again. That way, Sancho might be able to force his way back into the England squad.
It wouldn't be a surprise if Sancho made another return to Dortmund. The German club could lose Jamie Gittens and might need to seek a replacement for the 20-year-old Englishman.
Matty Hewitt
As much as I was a fan of watching Jadon Sancho during his time at Borussia Dortmund, it's fair to see he looks like one of those players who will be best suited to a career away from the Premier League.
There's no doubt he has plenty talent, but he hasn't shown it regularly enough in the English top flight. Part of me would love to see him given another shot at United to prove his worth and potentially play in one of those number 10 positions in Ruben Amorim's system, but sadly I think that ship has sailed.
Jim Ratcliffe's comments said everything about his future at Old Trafford - there isn't one.
What United must now do, is somehow, try and recoup as much money as they can this summer and reinvest into Amorim's squad. You'd expect Dortmund to be keen on another reunion, but a number of dominos must fall before that is the case.
Matthew Abbott
It appears only a matter of time until Jadon Sancho drops out of the Chelsea team after flattering to deceive since his first few appearances for the west London club.
United managing to include an obligation for them to make this season's loan deal permanent seemed too good to be true when that detail emerged on transfer deadline day, and it could well prove to be. However, they will at least receive a significant fee from Chelsea if the Blues get cold feet.
It would also hardly be surprising if the move goes through with the stockpiling of players at Stamford Bridge. A scenario where Sancho plays for Strasbourg next season alongside any number of Chelsea loanees is hardly inconceivable.
After all, it is on the continent where the winger has excelled during two spells at Borussia Dortmund. Impressing overseas again could be the best route back into the England squad.
Thomas Tuchel has shown with his reasoning for calling up Jordan Henderson that playing in the Uefa competition is as important, or even more key, than performing in the Premier League. Had he been in charge of the Three Lions last summer rather than Southgate, it is not unthinkable that Sancho's form could have led to a recall for the European Championship squad.
Bruna Reis
It's a bit disappointing that things haven't worked out for Sancho at Chelsea after a promising start at Stamford Bridge. I can understand why the club might hesitate to make his move permanent after a dip in form.
That said, it also wouldn't shock me if Chelsea decided to trigger the clause in his deal, considering their habit of accumulating players. Given his quality when he's on form, as we've seen at Borussia Dortmund, it would make sense for them to keep him and potentially loan him out to boost his value if he performs well.
United including an obligation to buy in the loan agreement with Chelsea for Sancho was a really good move by United and puts them in a strong position going into the summer transfer window.
They either get the reported £25million from Chelsea, or get Sancho back and a £5million fee from the Blues. United could then sell Sancho to another team and potentially make more money from the sale.
Either way, Sancho has no future at Old Trafford, so I don’t expect him to be pulling on a United shirt next season. I am also struggling to see him staying with Chelsea, even if they do pay the £25million fee.
A move back to Germany, I think, would make sense for all parties. That’s where Sancho has excelled once, and where he could again.
Jake Stokes
Unless Jadon Sancho enjoys a rich vein of form between now and the end of the season, Chelsea should pull the plug on a deal to sign the Manchester United winger. The 24-year-old has so much talent, but he rarely seems to really break a sweat.
The price tag isn't the issue for me. It's the fact that he'll sign a long-term contract. In the final weeks of the campaign, Sancho needs to prove he can perform at a consistently good level. He was class when he first arrived, and he's showed flashes of great promise since, but he's not maintained his standards.
It's disappointing that things haven't quite worked out. I had really high hopes for the England international...
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