Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has stated that Jadon Sancho has stated that it is not the moment to discuss the player’s future amid reports that the winger could return to Manchester United after his loan spell with Chelsea ends at the season’s conclusion.
Sancho, 25, joined Chelsea on loan with a £25 million obligation to buy, although a £5 million penalty clause exists if the club opts not to sign him permanently. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, the forward has struggled, scoring just twice in 29 appearances and enduring an 18-game goal drought across all competitions.
When asked about the possibility of making Sancho’s move permanent, Maresca said, “I’m completely focused on the next nine games, two months to go, I’m completely focused on that. Then what happens in the summer, we’ll see.”
Regarding Sancho’s performances, Maresca added, “In terms of numbers, he could do better, no doubt. It is not just about Jadon, but we have more players in the same situation.”
Maresca also addressed the incident in which he canceled a day off for first-team players not involved in international duty following a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea’s Under-21s at the training ground in March.
The manager explained that the players had fallen short of his “high standards” but downplayed the situation, calling it “nothing” and stating that it was “normal for the players to be relaxed” during the international break.
Chelsea will host Tottenham in the Premier League on Thursday, with Maresca’s squad receiving a boost from the return of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke after injury.
