Chelsea are deep in talks with Jadon Sancho’s people to agree a permanent deal from Manchester United. The Blues want to keep the winger but only if he is willing to agree a new deal in line with the club’s wage policy.
Sancho, who Chelsea signed on loan in August, has a £25 million obligation-to-buy clause inserted within his contract. But the club have the option to call off the deal by paying Manchester United £5 million. The Blues want to hold on to the 25-year-old but are not willing to match his current £300,000-per-week wages at United.
Instead, they are offering a longer-term, performance-related contract with a reduced base salary, which will accommodate their existing wage policy under owner Todd Boehly. For some perspective, elite earners such as Cole Palmer earn £130,000 weekly, while others such as Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke earn around £65,000.
Sancho’s performance for the season has not been consistent. However, he featured in a total of 42 matches, netted five goals, and made ten assists. He also scored the Blues’ third goal against Real Betis in their 4-1 win in the UEFA Conference League final. Despite this, his inconsistency in performance has raised concerns in the club as to his worth in the long term.
If Sancho rejects the reduction in pay, Chelsea will be able to utilize the £5 million penalty clause to send him back to Manchester United. Alternatively, other teams such as Bayer Leverkusen and his previous club Borussia Dortmund have already indicated interest in acquiring the winger.
What Ruben Amorim Has Said About Jadon Sancho
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has suggested Jadon Sancho’s issue is not a situation he has to deal with, stating his preference for the available players at Old Trafford. When asked about Sancho’s possible return, Amorim said:
“I don’t know. I’m just focused on my players and my problems. Sancho is not my problem.”
Amorim’s comments indicate that even if Sancho does come back to Manchester United, his integration into the team is by no means certain. The manager remains focused on the performance of the existing team, which has been termed as seriously underperforming this season.