Chelsea told to avoid Jadon Sancho transfer as Manchester United penalty fee emerges

Chelsea have been told to avoid paying the obligation fee to sign Jadon Sancho permanently from Manchester United next summer.

In the closing days of the 2024 summer transfer window, Jadon Sancho departed Manchester United to join Chelsea on loan for the 2024/25 season.

It was later disclosed that the agreement between the two clubs included an obligation for Chelsea to purchase the winger for £25 million in the summer.

Sancho had previously been sidelined by Erik ten Hag and loaned to Borussia Dortmund. Despite being brought back into the United squad in July 2024, doubts remained over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

Sancho started life at Stamford Bridge impressively, with three assists in his first three appearances. However, since then, the 24-year-old has just four goal contributions in 27 games.

Chelsea told to avoid Sancho transfer

Sancho recorded his first shot on target of the year in Chelsea’s recent game against FC København on 13 March.

The United loanees form has been dreadful and reports have emerged that the Blues could look to go back on their agreement with those at Old Trafford.

It has been claimed that Chelsea would be able to refuse to pay the £25 million to sign Sancho permanently, but would instead have to pay a hefty penalty fee.

Former Chelsea and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has urged his former club to avoid signing the player in the summer.

Johnson believes that Sancho’s inconsistencies mean that the transfer fee cannot be justified and the club may feel like the penalty fee is a better financial option.

“Jadon Sancho started well at Chelsea, but the problem with him is that he’s too inconsistent,” the 40-year-old told Betano.

“On his day when he’s up for it, he can look like a world beater, but it just isn’t happening often enough to justify the transfer for Chelsea at the moment.

“If Chelsea have the opportunity to go back to Manchester United at the end of the season and not pay the transfer fee for the deal, they may see that as a better outcome for them from a financial standpoint.

“I could see why they’d be looking to do that – the levels we’re seeing with Sancho at the moment are similar to what we’ve seen from him at other clubs for a while now, really.”

United will hope Sancho rumours are just noise

It would be extremely damning for Sancho if this ends up actually happening.

Should Chelsea decide against signing the winger, United would not want him back either. A sale abroad seems the most likely option in that case.

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His loan spell back at Borussia Dortmund last year showcased that he’s still able to excel in the Bundesliga, however, even they looked elsewhere when asked to deliver cash to buy him permanently.

United will be hoping that the media noise is just that – noise. Chelsea signing Sancho makes things a lot easier for them, as they have enough things to focus on in the summer.

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