Enzo Maresca has today left the door open for the potential return of Jadon Sancho to Manchester United in his press conference today ahead of Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.
Rumors have been strong in recent weeks regarding Jadon Sancho’s potential return to Manchester United, and Enzo Maresca has not exactly poured cold water on those rumors with his words today.
The Chelsea boss was speaking ahead of his side’s game against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, and he was asked some questions about the future of Jadon Sancho, which, despite the obligation clause in his loan contract from United to the Blues, is still up in the air.
It has been revealed that Chelsea can pay a fee of around £5 million to buy their way out of the obligation to retain Sancho, which is set at around £25 million.
Maresca refused to rule out the possibility of Sancho returning to United that in the summer, which may only add some more fuel to the growing suggestions that Chelsea remains reluctant to sign him permanently.
Maresca does not rule out Sancho’s departure
Speaking to reporters ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham on Thursday evening, Maresca had the following to say about Jadon Sancho.
“I love all the players who are part of this squad,” the Italian 45-year-old explained.
“Full focus now is to finish well and not think about next season. What happens in the summer, we will see. I am happy with all the players we have.”
There is a lot of room for interpretation from the Chelsea manager in these quotes, but it does seem increasingly likely that the club may choose to pay United the penalty fee associated with the decision to decide against signing Sancho permanently.
Sancho has struggled in recent months for the club he is currently on loan at, failing to replicate the early-season form that earned him so many plaudits.
There is unlikely to be any room at Manchester United should the player return in the summer, with various reports suggesting Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing him for a third time.
Sancho spent last season on loan at the German club, reaching the Champions League final, but they decided against making a permanent move for the winger when the summer window opened.
Sancho needs to perform in coming months
It is in Sancho’s best interests to showcase his talent over the next couple of months, as Chelsea refusing to sign him and sending him back to United despite an obligation would be a huge blow to his career.
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United fans felt some anger at Sancho for posting the word “freedom” under Marcus Rashford’s recent post, but in truth, Sancho may very well have felt a sense of freedom after leaving United.
The club was unstable during his period there, and although he has to respect he made some of his own mistakes along the way, it cannot have been a good environment to develop in.
With that being said, he is failing to capitalize on that freedom at a club that does not have anywhere near the amount of pressure that’s put on players at United, and should he fail to showcase his undeniable talent in the closing months of the campaign, he could find himself at a very difficult crossroads in his career.
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