Chelsea can pay Manchester United £5million to terminate Jadon Sancho's loan at the end of the season - as opposed to signing the 25-year-old winger on a permanent basis
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Updated 16:56, 27 Mar 2025
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho could join Chelsea for around £25m this summer or instead return to Manchester United, if the Blues pay a £5m termination fee
(Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea will take their time to assess the future of Jadon Sancho - despite mounting speculation that he could return to Manchester United this summer. In the past week, it has emerged that Chelsea can pay United a £5million penalty fee to back out of their obligation to buy the winger this summer, which is understood to be worth in the region of £25m. Sancho himself does not envisage returning to Old Trafford and is understood to be happy at Stamford Bridge where he is determined to both fulfil his potential and justify his arrival. Following the completion of his deadline day loan switch to Chelsea, he said his goodbyes to United on social media, writing: "Thank you to all the fans, staff and teammates @ManUtd. Wishing everyone all the best for the future."
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However, Sancho currently remains a United player with Ruben Amorim's side still paying a significant portion of his £250,000-a-week wages. The prospect of Chelsea paying the termination fee is far from guaranteed at this stage given Sancho remains a regular starter under Enzo Maresca in west London. While he has mustered just two goals and six assists in 29 appearances in all competitions, it should not be forgotten that he made a notable impact earlier in the season when he was first blooded into Maresca's side. Chelsea also negotiated the initial agreement with the intention of signing Sancho permanently and so far, there has been no clear indication they will abandon ship despite holding the option to do so.
Boss Maresca prides himself on his ability to improve players and he has made it clear on several occasions that he rates Sancho and views him as somebody that can contribute towards success. Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently disclosed that United are set to send Borussia Dortmund £17m this summer for the England international as they continue to pay off his £73m transfer sealed back in 2021.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho is currently on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
The feeling from a United perspective is that Sancho is now off their hands and it would be deemed a big surprise and shock if he was to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season. Ultimately, the outcome of the debacle will hinge on whether Chelsea believe Sancho is worth the money or whether they're better off pursuing alternative targets. Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams remains a player of great interest and the signing of another winger is firmly on the agenda this summer, whatever happens with Sancho. Mykhailo Mudryk remains provisionally suspended by the Football Association following a failed drugs test in December and Maresca still requires cover for the Ukrainian, though there is a strong chance he may have been replaced at the end of the season anyway, even if he was available. Chelsea's transfer focus is to raise significant cash via sales at the end of the campaign so they can fund the arrival of a new striker for Maresca. Sancho's future is not expected to be linked to the potential fire-sale.
It remains to be seen whether a third stint with Borussia Dortmund is a genuine possibility amid reports in Germany that Sancho hopes to rejoin the Bundesliga giants.
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