Goodbye! Chelsea pay penalty fee to send Sancho BACK to Manchester United

Chelsea secured Sancho on loan from Manchester United last summer after it became evident that his relationship with manager Erik ten Hag was beyond repair.

The Blues had initially agreed to a £25m obligation to buy the former Borussia Dortmund star, with a clause allowing them to break the agreement for a £5m fee. However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Sancho “is leaving Chelsea when his contract ends on June 30 after an agreement could not be reached over personal terms.”

This development means the loan move will not become permanent, despite the £25m obligation, as a deal on salary and terms between Sancho and Chelsea could not be finalized.

Ornstein added that the player “has options in England and elsewhere around Europe, which he is expected to explore before making a decision as to his next step.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, however, insists that Sancho is “not expected to stay” at Manchester United this summer, with the Red Devils still intent on moving him on.

Sancho has endured a rocky spell since returning to England in the summer of 2021, and his wages could prove to be a stumbling block, leading to another loan deal.

The 25-year-old scored 5 goals in 41 appearances for Chelsea.