CHELSEA can still opt out of their obligation-to-buy loan deal for Manchester United flop Jadon Sancho.
The Blues signed United outcast Sancho, 24, last summer following an agreement with their Premier League foes.
The winger moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan – but included in the deal was an obligation to buy the winger for £25million this coming June.
The England international started well as he registered an assist in each of his first three Premier League matches with the West Londoners.
However, Sancho’s form has since dipped and he currently tallies only two goals and six assists in 28 appearances with Enzo Maresca’s side.
Therefore, Chelsea may not be too keen to splash the cash for the ex-Borussia Dortmund star this summer.
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According to The Athletic, however, there may be a way out for Chelsea after all – but it comes with a catch.
The Blues will have to pay Man Utd £5m if they do NOT complete the signing of Sancho permanently.
That means the forward may return to Old Trafford after all amid reports suggesting United manager Ruben Amorim is planning a mass summer clearout.
And the Red Devils don’t seem too keen to welcome the ex-Manchester City youngster back.
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That is after Man Utd minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s damning assessment of Sancho and four other players who never lived up to expectations.
Ratcliffe recently said: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony.
“We’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying [Andre] Onana, we’re buying [Rasmus] Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17million to buy him in the summer.”
United fans didn’t seem too pleased with that new piece of information following Sancho’s struggles in Manchester.
One supporter tweeted: “This is so unfair. So obligatory loans are essentially useless. This is not a significant penalty.”
Another commented: “Since when did they change the definition of obligation?”
A third wrote: “What a joke. So it basically wasn’t an obligation. It was essentially a straight loan with a fee, and not even a high fee at that. That’s us stuck with him next season then.”
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This fan said: “Whoever negotiated this kind of deal should be top of Manchester United’s sack list if not sacked already.”
And that one wondered: “What’s the point of an obligation to buy if they don’t buy?”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
