Chelsea face five million pound fee if Jadon Sancho loan not made permanent

Having joined on a season-long loan from Manchester United in August, the deal included an obligation to purchase him for between 20 million pounds and 25 million pounds, provided Chelsea finish at least 14th in the league.

Currently sitting fourth with nine matches remaining, Chelsea appear on track to meet that requirement. However, sources have now revealed that there is a clause allowing Chelsea to return Sancho to Old Trafford, provided they pay a 5 million pound compensation fee to United. Despite Chelsea's previous assurances that they do not intend to exercise this option, uncertainty lingers over whether Sancho will remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this season.

Sancho's move to Chelsea came after a turbulent period at Manchester United, where he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund for the second half of last season following a fallout with former United manager Erik ten Hag over his performances. At Chelsea, he initially showed promise but has struggled to maintain consistency.

While United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe mentioned in a BBC interview that Sancho is one of the players they are "buying" this summer as part of outstanding payments from his 73 million pound transfer from Dortmund in 2021, Sancho's form has not reflected that of a 73 million pound player. He has only managed one assist in his last 18 appearances, and his last goal came against Tottenham on December 8th.

Chelsea is eyeing further reinforcements for next season, with reports indicating they are targeting another winger and a striker. Additionally, the club has already secured the signing of 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting for 42 million pounds, though that deal will not go through until 2026.

Sancho's current contract with United runs until 2026, with the club holding the option to extend it by another year. However, his numbers at Chelsea raise concerns. In 29 games, he has scored just twice and provided a mere three assists, with none of his 19 Premier League crosses reaching a teammate. These stats place him among the least effective attackers at the club, with only Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been banned since December for a doping violation, posting worse figures.

Despite these struggles, forward Joao Felix, who joined Chelsea on loan in January, has managed superior output compared to Sancho, continuing to impress despite his own move away to AC Milan. As the season progresses, the pressure will be on both Sancho and Chelsea to determine whether his future lies at Stamford Bridge or back at Old Trafford.

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