Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has finally addressed the loan termination rumours surrounding Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho.
Sancho joined Chelsea on loan from United last summer in a deal that included a £25 million obligation to buy, contingent on the Blues finishing at least 14th in the Premier League this season.
Currently, Chelsea sit in fourth place, 15 points ahead of 15th-placed Everton, and it appears it’s only a matter of time before that condition is fulfilled.
However, due to Sancho’s poor performances over the past few months, there have been suggestions that Chelsea could back out of their obligation to sign the forward permanently. Last month, David Ornstein revealed that Maresca’s side will have to pay United £5m to cancel the arrangement.
Ahead of Chelsea’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, Maresca spoke about Sancho’s future while admitting the England international needs to improve.
Maresca’s said that the 25-year-old’s situation has not changed despite the emergence of a clause that could see him remain a United player.
The Spanish coach told reporters [via Independent], “All the players that are with us, I love all of them. But in this moment, it is the moment to finish well. It is not the moment to think about next season.”
“I am completely focused on nine games, two months to go. I’m completely focused about that and then what happens in the summer, we’ll see. All the ones that are here, I want them all to be happy to be here.”
“To be honest, probably you have more news than me in terms of Jadon. For me, Jadon’s situation doesn’t change. It is exactly the same. For sure, in terms of numbers, he could do better, no doubt.”
Maresca added, “But it is not just about Jadon. I think we have more players in the same situation. I don’t need to give Jadon a message because I speak with Jadon every day.”
“I had a conversation yesterday with him. He just has to give his best until the end and this is what we want from Jadon.”
It has been reported that Chelsea are still keen on signing Sancho permanently, potentially with the intention of selling him for a profit in the summer transfer window.
Feature image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
