According to recent reports, Chelsea are asking Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho to agree to a new contract, presumably on reduced terms, before finalizing his permanent transfer to Stamford Bridge for £25 million.
The 25-year-old England international spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Stamford Bridge after joining from Old Trafford. Chelsea have an obligation to buy Sancho for £25 million in the summer transfer window, four years after United initially signed him for £73 million in 2021. However, the loan agreement includes a £5 million penalty clause that allows Chelsea to withdraw from the mandatory purchase.
Sky Sports News reports that Chelsea are currently in negotiations with the winger`s representatives regarding his future. It is understood that the Blues are keen for Sancho to remain in West London on a permanent basis.
However, the same reports from Sky suggest that Chelsea`s willingness to complete the signing is contingent on Sancho agreeing to a salary that aligns with the club`s existing wage structure. Sancho is currently reported to earn a substantial £350,000 per week at Manchester United, where he has just one year remaining on his current contract.
The current ownership under Todd Boehly has implemented a strategy focused on signing players on relatively modest wage packages. For comparison, Chelsea`s prominent player, Cole Palmer, reportedly earns £130,000 per week. Other first-team players such as Nicolas Jackson, Robert Sanchez, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, and Romeo Lavia are said to be on £65,000 per week or less.
Under manager Enzo Maresca, Sancho competed for a starting spot on the wing against players like Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto.
Across all competitions for Chelsea during his loan spell, Sancho made 41 appearances, scoring five goals and providing ten assists. His three Premier League goals came against teams that finished low in the table: Southampton (20th), Tottenham (17th), and Ipswich (19th).
More memorably, he scored the decisive third goal in the Conference League final against Real Betis after coming on as a substitute, curling the ball home to seal the 3-1 victory. His celebration involved a distinctive blue phone prop.
If Sancho declines a potential pay cut and the deal with Chelsea collapses, he may explore other transfer options, especially given reports suggesting Manchester United are open to selling their entire squad. Possible destinations could include Bayer Leverkusen, potentially as a replacement for Florian Wirtz (linked with Liverpool), or a return to his former club Borussia Dortmund to bolster their attack.
