Chelsea will have to pay a significant fee to Manchester United if they decide against signing Jadon Sancho permanently in the summer.
The English winger moved to Stamford Bridge from Old Trafford on a season-long loan last summer, and as part of the agreement, Chelsea have an obligation to buy Sancho permanently for a £25 million ($32.3m) transfer fee.
However, in the scenario that the Blues decided against signing the player permanently, a clause in the deal dictates that they would still have to pay a fixed amount of £5m to the Red Devils, according to The Athletic.
Sancho got off to a flying start in his new environment as he contributed with an assist in each of his first three Premier League appearances for the west London side. However, since then his form has taken a dip, with Sancho scoring just two goals and laying on only one more in the subsequent 20 league matches. That meagre return has led to serious questions being asked over whether Chelsea should bother to keep the winger, and the emergence of the get-out clause will only fuel the scrutiny around his future.
In January, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had backed the player as he had said: “For me, he’s doing very well. I am quite surprised with Jadon because I knew Jadon already (from seeing him at his previous clubs) and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well. Apart from a short part of the season (early November) when he had some problems. When he was out ill but for the rest he has been very good. I expected him to do well, but for all the players doing well for a long period is not easy, and he has been doing well for a long period already. He’s doing well, now he just needs to continue going in that way.”
Maresca’s team who are currently fourth in the Premier League, will be next seen in action on April 3 as they take on London rivals Tottenham. Sancho will hope to use that game as a springboard after scoring in the reverse fixture
