Shock loophole found in Jadon Sancho's contract that changes everything for Man Utd and Chelsea

Jadon Sancho could still return to Manchester United this summer as Chelsea face a contract dilemma which could see them financially penalised.

Sancho, 24, is currently on loan at Chelsea, having left United in the summer transfer window.

And despite him recently explaining how he feels “at home” at Chelsea, it is still possible that he could return to United after the 2024/25 season concludes.

Sancho’s move to Enzo Maresca’s side includes an obligation for Chelsea to buy him at the end of the season if they finish 14^th or higher in the Premier League, according to the Mail.

With the Blues currently in fourth position, this looks highly likely to happen.

However, the report suggests that it is still possible that Sancho could return to United if Chelsea fail to fulfil the obligation – although this would cost a ‘significant penalty’ to pull out of the agreed terms between the clubs.

It is also reported that players usually discuss terms before joining a club on loan if they have a view to sign permanently. But it is understood that this is not the case with Sancho.

So, two options remain: Chelsea can honour the obligation and then sell him to another club or face a financial penalty if they decide to send him back to United.

Sancho was one of the players who United minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe claimed United were still paying for despite him joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

"I'll give you an example, if you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn't buy, we are buying Antony, we are buying Casemiro, we are buying Andre Onana, we are buying Rasmus Hojlund, we are buying Jadon Sancho [this summer]," Ratcliffe told BBC Sport on Monday.

"These are all things from the past but whether we like it or not we have inherited those things and we have to sort it out. For Sancho, who obviously now plays for Chelsea, and we pay half his wages, we are paying £17m to buy him in the summer. So it takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future."

Sancho's United contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.