Chelsea are still expected to sign Jadon Sancho permanently in the summer despite the emergence of a get-out clause existing in the deal to sign him from Manchester United.
United would be due a £5m penalty payment from Chelsea, should the London club wish to get out of the £25m obligation included in his ongoing season-long loan deal.
Chelsea are expected to be in the market for a new winger in the summer but that intention is due to the uncertainty around Mykhailo Mudryk’s future.
The Ukrainian was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after testing positive for banned substance.
Sancho enjoyed a bright start to his Chelsea loan with three assists in his first three appearances in the Premier League.
But his form has dipped of late and the 24-year-old is without a goal involvement since January 4 and has just one shot on target since Boxing Day.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was full of praise for Sancho in January, saying: “For me he’s doing very well.
“I am quite surprised with Jadon, because I knew Jadon already [from seeing him at his previous clubs] and I know what I expected from him, but in terms of being consistent, he’s doing very well.”
Sancho, who was signed by United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021 for £73m, left Old Trafford after falling out with former manager Erik ten Hag.