Enzo Maresca has hinted that Jadon Sancho could remain at Chelsea next season after the club won the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 to become the first side to win all four major European trophies, with Sancho among the four scorers in a dominant second half.
The 25-year-old joined the Blues on loan from Manchester United last summer with an option to sign permanently for £25million but he hasn’t found his best form at Stamford Bridge.
And Chelsea are considering returning the winger, who United signed for £73m from Borussia Dortmund, even though they will be forced to pay a £5m compensation fee if he doesn’t stay at the club.
But following Chelsea’s win on Wednesday night, Maresca lavished praise on Sancho and suggested his future could lie in west London.
The Italian boss said: ‘We are going to sit with the club and decide what happens for next year. If we finish fourth it is also because of Jadon, if we win tonight it is also because of Jadon.
Enzo Maresca has hinted that Jadon Sancho could in fact remain at Chelsea next season
The 25-year-old scored Chelsea’s third as they beat Real Betis in the Conference League final
Chelsea became the first side to win all four European trophies by beating Betis on Wednesday
‘It is normal in a season to go a little bit up and down.’
Maresca had previously revealed that Chelsea were still weighing up their options regarding the winger.
‘I don’t know,’ Maresca said when asked his future. ‘I said that when in the last weeks you asked me about different players, I always said the same. And the reason why is because it’s the truth.
‘It’s not the moment, we have the final. Then in 24 hours, 48 hours, we’re going to start to talk about the future. But at this moment, there is not any thought or any decision made on Jadon or any different players.’
Sancho has scored five goals and claimed 10 assists in 42 games in all competitions this season.
Most have come in the Conference League, where he has scored twice and provided five assists.
Sancho has scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 42 games for Chelsea this season
Chelsea would have to pay Man United a £5m compensation package if he leaves this season
Enzo Maresca lavished praise on Sancho, claiming he was vital in their successes this season
He put Chelsea 3-1 up in Wroclaw on Wednesday night with a curled finish from a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s pass.
The Blues went behind after just nine minutes but an electric second-half saw them claim a convincing victory.
After the match Maresca blamed the slow start on their celebrations after beating Forest and on qualifying for the Champions League.
He said: ‘I think we approached the game in the wrong way. I expected it a bit because the happiness was too much after Nottingham.
‘So we struggled a bit to start but in the second-half we were much better’.