Jadon Sancho's transfer lifeline as three clubs lead race to end Man Utd misery

Jadon Sancho could head to Saudi Arabia this summer after snubbed the chance to sign the outcast. The England international has been left in limbo again after the Blues refused to meet his contract demands.

Chelsea opted to pay United £5million as a penalty fee for failing to trigger the obligation to buy him for £25m as part of the loan deal agreed last summer.

Sancho, 25, had a mixed season at Stamford Bridge but did score in the Blues’ Europa Conference League final win over Real Betis last week.

Enzo Maresca was keen to keep the winger but Chelsea’s top brass would not meet the player’s demands for the Stamford Bridge club to match his £300,000-a-week wages.

United were brought into the discussion about whether they would pay off some of the wages left on his deal which expires next summer.

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But they opted not to intervene and will instead pocket the £5m fine and hope to sell him elsewhere. United still owe close to £17m in unpaid fees from the £75m deal to sign him in 2021.

No top European clubs are going to consider signing the player on those wages and Sancho has shown by refusing to take a pay cut at Chelsea he still wants to earn what he gets at Old Trafford.

That means his likely destination this summer is Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al Nassr are all interested. Sancho has links to high-profile figures in the Saudi Pro-League which could help broker a deal. That would be music to United’s ears.

Boss Ruben Amorim has no intention of reintegrating the player into his squad as they push ahead for a deal for Bryan Mbeumo after securing Matheus Cunha.

United are looking to sell to raise further funds for their summer rebuild and are banking on getting some money from Sancho. They would hope a Saudi bid could at least match the £25m they were due from Chelsea.

But the £5m penalty fee they have received gives them wiggle room on their budgeting. That could be used to supplement the players’ wages at another club if they don’t strike a deal with a Saudi big hitter.

United don’t want to have to loan Sancho out for the final year of his contract and see him walk away for nothing next summer - although the player is not against that idea as he would have the pick of his clubs next summer.

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