Chelsea felt the deal to signal winger Jadon Sancho from Manchester United on deadline day was too good to show down, 90min understands.
Curiosity in Sancho solely emerged late in the summertime switch window when it turned clear Chelsea needed to dump Raheem Sterling, with head coach Enzo Maresca searching for one other versatile left-sided winger or ahead.
With that transient in thoughts, co-director of recruitment and expertise Joe Shields started trying carefully at Sancho. Shields is broadly credited for unearthing Sancho throughout his time at Manchester Metropolis and offered information from the winger’s time with Borussia Dortmund as proof that Sancho may excel in the precise system.
United had been searching for £40m to promote Sancho however ended up decreasing that asking value, which solely additional elevated Chelsea’s want to strike a deal. A mortgage with an compulsory buy clause was agreed at between £20m and £25m, with the determine to be decided by Chelsea’s closing league standing on the finish of the season. For the clause to be triggered, Chelsea should end at worst 14th, and the upper they place, the extra United get.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that Chelsea had been delighted with these funds, assured that Sancho will both justify the expense and be an enormous success at Stamford Bridge or finally be bought on for the same charge if issues don’t work out in some unspecified time in the future additional down the road.
Sancho additionally took a pay minimize to seal a transfer to Stamford Bridge and is on decrease wage than Sterling, who made a mortgage transfer of his personal to Arsenal on deadline day, aiding Chelsea’s quest to decrease their wage invoice.
The enterprise facet of issues appealed to Chelsea’s decision-makers, whereas on the pitch, Maresca was additionally impressed. The brand new boss likes wingers who can assault their defenders out extensive and likewise end like strikers within the field, and the assumption is that Sancho can provide a invaluable contribution to the crew.
Whereas Chelsea could seem to have an extra of left wingers on paper, they don’t see it as such. Maresca’s system requires versatility and, though Pedro Neto and Joao Felix could seem pure matches for the left-sided function, the sensation is that every of Chelsea’s wingers can be required to assist on each side of the pitch throughout the marketing campaign and even in a central function. Neto relishes enjoying on the precise and Felix’s most well-liked place is a central one.
Sancho was offered to followers forward of the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and can prepare with Maresca in the course of the worldwide break. He may make his debut for Chelsea within the journey to Bournemouth on September 14.
