Chelsea are reportedly committed to signing Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal from Manchester United, despite having the option to cancel the agreement for a £5 million fee. The 24-year-old winger, who joined Chelsea on loan in August, was initially seen as a major addition to Enzo Maresca’s squad. However, his form has been inconsistent, raising questions about whether the London club would proceed with the £25 million transfer.
Despite his struggles, Chelsea remain hopeful that Sancho can rediscover the brilliance he displayed at Borussia Dortmund, where he played a key role in their Champions League final run last season. Maresca has backed the England international, insisting that he has seen enough progress to justify a permanent move.
Sancho’s Rocky Journey at Chelsea
When Chelsea signed Jadon Sancho from Manchester United on loan, it was expected that the winger would play a key role in Maresca’s attacking setup. At first, he showed glimpses of his dribbling ability and creativity, but over time, his performances have declined. Sancho has only scored two goals in all competitions, and he has failed to find the back of the net since December.
His inconsistency has led to speculation about whether Chelsea would activate the buy option or use the £5 million cancel clause to send him back to Manchester United. However, according to multiple reports, Chelsea are still willing to complete the £25 million deal, believing that Sancho has the potential to turn his form around.
Why Chelsea Still Want Sancho
Despite his struggles, Sancho remains a player with immense talent. Chelsea believe that, under Maresca’s system, he could flourish in the coming seasons. Some of the key reasons why Chelsea want to keep Sancho include:
- Maresca’s Trust in Sancho
- Maresca has publicly defended Sancho, stating that he has been surprised by his progress. The Chelsea boss believes that with time, Sancho can regain his confidence and consistency.
- Sancho’s Dortmund Form as a Benchmark
- Chelsea are hoping that Sancho can replicate the form he showed at Borussia Dortmund, where he was a key player in their Champions League run last season.
- At Dortmund, Sancho was a major creative force, scoring key goals and providing assists in big matches.
- Chelsea’s Lack of Quality Wingers
- While Chelsea have Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk, neither has been consistently reliable this season.
- Sancho’s technical ability and vision make him an asset in a possession-based system, which Maresca prefers.
- Potential Long-Term Value
- At 24 years old, Sancho still has plenty of time to develop.
- If he performs well, Chelsea could eventually sell him for a higher fee or keep him as a key player in their project.
Sancho’s Manchester United Exit: A Fresh Start at Chelsea
Sancho’s departure from Manchester United was not without drama. He was frozen out by Erik ten Hag after a public falling-out with the Dutch manager last season. Ten Hag questioned Sancho’s training levels, and the winger responded by defending himself on social media. The conflict led to Sancho being sidelined for several months before he was loaned to Dortmund in January 2024.
At Dortmund, Jadon Sancho briefly regained his confidence, helping the team reach the Champions League final. His performances convinced Chelsea to take a gamble on him during the summer transfer window. However, adapting to Maresca’s tactical system has proven challenging, and Sancho has yet to produce the numbers Chelsea expected.
Can Sancho Prove Himself at Chelsea?
For Sancho to succeed at Chelsea, he needs to:
- Improve his goal-scoring and assist numbers
- Two goals all season is not enough for a player of his caliber.
- Increase his work rate and defensive contributions
- Maresca expects his wingers to track back and press aggressively.
- Stay fit and avoid injuries
- Injuries have disrupted his rhythm and consistency in the past.
Chelsea believe that, with more game time and confidence, Jadon Sancho could rediscover his best form.
Chelsea’s Transfer Plans and Competition for Sancho’s Position
Although Chelsea are set to sign Jadon Sancho permanently, they are still exploring other winger options. In January, Chelsea were linked with Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, and they could still strengthen their attack in the summer.
If Chelsea do bring in another winger, Sancho will need to step up his performances to secure a starting spot. Competition for places could motivate him to improve, or it could push him further down the pecking order.
Final Thoughts: Will Sancho Deliver for Chelsea?
Jadon Sancho’s future at Chelsea looks secure, but his performances need to improve for him to justify the £25 million price tag. The club believes in his potential, but patience will eventually run out if he fails to replicate his Borussia Dortmund form.
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For now, Chelsea are set to ignore the £5 million cancellation clause and give Sancho more time to adapt. However, with Chelsea looking to qualify for the Champions League, they need Jadon Sancho to step up soon and become the player they expected him to be.
