Jadon Sancho will have one final chance to prove his value to Chelsea with Blues manager Enzo Maresca admitting that the club are yet to make a call on the Man United loanee’s future.
The London club take on Real Betis in Wednesday night’s Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw with Sancho included in the squad.
The 25-year-old joined on loan at the very end of last summer’s transfer window, signing for the duration of the 2024/25 season with a view to making the move permanent this summer.
The deal included the condition that Chelsea would be obligated to sign Sancho permanently for £25million should they finish higher than 14th in the Premier League.
The Blues, who finished fourth, must pay a £5m penalty to Man United if they wish to renege on that term.
And Maresca has revealed that Chelsea are still weighing up their options.
It is still unclear where Man United loanee Jadon Sancho will be playing his football next term
Enzo Maresca says Chelsea will not make a decision until after the Conference League final
The 25-year-old has scored one goal and produced five assists in the Conference League
‘I don’t know,’ said the Italian boss. ‘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.’
That gives Sancho, who has scored one goal and produced five assists in the Conference League, the opportunity to impress the Stamford Bridge hierachy — and any suitors — in a European final.
The winger started both legs of the Blues’ Europa Conference League semi-final triumph over Djurgarden.
Real Betis, who boast their own Man United loanee in Antony, are hunting the club’s first ever European trophy.
But, going into the clash, Maresca admitted that he had often struggled to persuade his squad that the competition had any value.
‘Probably the most complicated thing this season about the Conference has been to convince the players that for us it was the best competition in the world,’ he said.
‘And the reason why was because it was the competition that we were in. So every game has been difficult, especially because I needed to convince the players that we were able to drop nothing because you can lose points against any team. And we need to respect any team in Europe and any team that we face.
‘And then I’m not focused about winning this competition or winning this trophy because my name, for sure I’m happy if we win, but I’m especially happy for the club, for the fans.
‘And as you said, also because Chelsea can become the first club in Europe to win all the European competitions.’