The future of 25-year-old Jadon Sancho during the 2024 summer transfer window is still a contentious issue.
The English winger, who is currently on loan at Chelsea from Manchester United, doesn’t appear interested in staying with either team.
Sancho is reportedly considering a return to the Bundesliga, specifically to his old team Borussia Dortmund, according to reports from Germany.
Chelsea is in control of the loan deal, which includes a purchase option
Chelsea had a conditional commitment to purchase Sancho when they signed him on loan last summer.
Chelsea must activate a purchase clause worth between £20 million and £25 million based on performance indicators and their final Premier League placing.
The contract does, however, contain a flexible clause that allows Chelsea to back out of the agreement by paying a £5 million penalty, so sending Sancho back to Manchester United at the end of the current campaign.
Sancho hasn’t played at Stamford Bridge with much vigor, but his contributions and tactical fit have been valuable.
According to numerous insiders, Chelsea would rather use the buy clause than incur a straight loss of £5 million by returning him.
Sancho is determined to return to Dortmund
The player doesn’t seem to be interested in staying at Chelsea for the long run. Sancho has told his agents that he wants to go back to Dortmund, the team he calls his “second home,” according to the German publication Bild.
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Sancho would not be wearing the black and yellow for the first time. He quickly became a star at Dortmund after graduating from Manchester City’s academy in 2017, making him one of the most promising young players in Europe.
He even helped the team make it to the UEFA Champions League final in 2023 while on loan. Despite their eventual failure, Sancho’s performance received high appreciation.
Leverkusen and Dortmund Show Interest
Prominent transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has commented on the speculations, saying: “Sancho’s future has been the subject of a lot of conjecture. It’s obvious that Chelsea has the option to purchase him long-term, but they also have the option to pay Manchester United to send him back.
Romano underlined that Chelsea would evaluate the issue at the end of the season and has not yet taken a decision.
According to Premier League transfer specialist Graeme Bailey, Sancho’s representatives have already begun negotiating a return with Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen, a Bundesliga team, has also indicated interest in adding a seasoned winger to their roster.
United and Chelsea’s Financial Strategy: Focusing on the Numbers
Financially speaking, Manchester United would probably accept an offer of less than £15 million since it would spare them from having to register a loss if Sancho’s market value declined.
Chelsea, however, might think about taking a “buy-and-flip” strategy, which would include using the £25 million option and then flipping Sancho for a profit, perhaps as much as £30 million.
According to reports, Chelsea may also go into a player-swap agreement, using Sancho as leverage to recruit Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, a highly regarded prospect from Dortmund and a longtime Blues target.
Bynoe-Gittens is valued by Dortmund at about €80 million, which makes any prospective deal difficult but not impossible.
A well-liked Chelsea figure who isn’t included in long-term plans?
Sancho has apparently established a good reputation in the Chelsea locker room despite his patchy on-field results.
Journalist Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC claims that Sancho has impressed with his work ethic and willingness to coach younger players like Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George. He is even considered to be one of the unofficial senior leaders of the team.
However, such goodwill might not be sufficient to guarantee him a permanent spot at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s coaching staff isn’t quite convinced of him, and he didn’t get called up to the most recent England national team roster.
According to insiders, Sancho would not mesh well with the Portuguese tactician’s technical philosophy, as Ruben Amorim is anticipated to succeed him as Chelsea’s manager.
A Career Turning Point: What Will Happen to Sancho Next?
In conclusion, it looks like Sancho will leave Manchester United permanently this summer, with Chelsea now in the best position to sign him.
It’s unclear, though, if he will continue at Chelsea or rejoin Borussia Dortmund, the team he loves the most.
The next phase of Sancho’s career will be decided in large part within the upcoming months. Is he going to stay in the Premier League or return to the Bundesliga? The football community eagerly awaits.
