Chelsea have opted not to sign winger Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal and will instead pay a £5million penalty to send the player back to Manchester United.
However, the Blues have expressed interest in signing France goalkeeper Mike Maignan from AC Milan.
Sancho joined Chelsea on loan last summer after his relationship with former United manager Erik ten Hag deteriorated.
Manchester United, who signed Sancho for £73million from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, are willing to let the 25-year-old leave.
Chelsea did not pay a loan fee for Sancho and covered only half of his reported £300,000-a-week wages.
The Blues had agreed to an obligation to buy Sancho for around £25million if they finished higher than 14th in the Premier League — a condition they met — or pay a fee to exit the deal.
However, the club and Sancho’s representatives failed to agree on contract terms, as the player would have needed to take a pay cut from his United salary.
Sancho still has one year left on his United contract, with the club owing £17million to Dortmund.
Sancho scored in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Real Betis on Wednesday, helping secure the club’s first trophy since February 2022 – the UEFA Conference League.
He finished the season with five goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances.
Although Jadon Sancho remains under contract at Chelsea until June 30, he is unlikely to feature for the club in this month’s Club World Cup in the United States.
Read more: Liverpool pushing for Florian Wirtz deal amid Rayan Cherki talks
