How Jadon Sancho could STILL end up back at Man Utd despite Chelsea agreement

Jadon Sancho could yet end up back at Manchester United this summer if Chelsea decide to back out of a permanent deal.

The former Borussia Dortmund star joined the Blues on a season-long loan last summer after three disappointing seasons at Old Trafford.

Sancho enjoyed a bright start to life at Stamford Bridge with three assists in his opening three games but his form have waned since with just one goal contribution in his last 13 Premier League games.

United are still paying for Sancho with a £17million payment due this summer with Sir Jim Ratcliffe naming him as one of five players the club ‘inherited’ under the new ownership.

The loan deal that took him to Chelsea in the summer included an obligation to buy him at the end of the season if Enzo Maresca’s side finish 14th or higher for fee between £22million and £25million.

The Blues are currently sat in fourth place, firmly in the race for Champions League qualification but there is still the possibility Chelsea could find a way out of the deal.

The Daily Mail report Chelsea can still back out of the arrangement – although it would cost them a ‘significant penalty’ to break the terms of the agreement.

Sancho is also still to agree terms with Chelsea over a permanent move.

While personal terms between a player and a club he is joining on loan with a view to a permanent move are usually agreed, that is not thought to be the case with Sancho and Chelsea.

For his part, the Kennington-born winger is happy back in London.

‘I’m really delighted that I’m here, playing football at Chelsea,’ Sancho said after the weekend win over Leicester.

‘Maresca makes us feel at home. It’s not easy for players to say that. We’ve grown into one big family.’

Any situation that results in Sancho heading back to Manchester would be another major headache for United with the club already eager to offload a number of players.

‘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 Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho,’ Ratcliffe told BBC Sport this week.

‘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 £17m to buy him in the summer.’

MORE: Real reason for Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s training bust-up revealed

MORE: Jermain Defoe names the two best players he ever played with

MORE: Viktor Gyokeres wants to join three Premier League clubs ahead of Man Utd