Jadon Sancho transfer twist as Enzo Maresca responds to Man Utd demands

Jadon Sancho moved to Chelsea on loan with a permanent move on his radar but Enzo Maresca is yet to make a call on his future with Manchester United needing his sale to fund their summer plans

Enzo Maresca has been non-committal about Chelsea landing Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal but confessed he "could do better" in terms of goal involvements. The winger is on loan at the Blues from Manchester United as he waits to see where his future lies.

Sancho made the move in the summer, back when Erik ten Hag was still in charge at Old Trafford, and the deal involved an option to make the loan permanent in 12 months time. The ex-Borussia Dortmund star has been in and out of the team, starting 16 of 29 Premier League games in a heavily congested squad.

It is understood that Chelsea would have to pay a fee if they opted against signing Sancho, but equally a figure has already been set should they want to purchase him. That stands at around £25million but the former England international has not scored or assisted since the beginning of January - a run stretching back 13 games.

Maresca has overseen a number of signings since arriving at Chelsea and has a job keeping all of his attackers happy. For now the Italian has placed his focus on the current season, insisting "we'll see" when it comes to a possible permanent deal for Sancho.

He said: "All the players that are with us, I love all of them, but in this moment it's the moment to finish well and then it's not the moment to think about next season. I'm completely focused about nine games, two months to go, I'm completely focused about that. Then what happens in summer, we'll see. But all the ones that are here, I want them happy to be here."

Maresca was pressed further on Sancho's situation and added: "To be honest, probably you have more news than me in terms of Jadon. For me, Jadon's situation doesn't change, he's exactly the same. For sure, in terms of numbers, he could do better, no doubt, but it's not just about Jadon, I think we have more players in the same situation.

"Now, I don't need to give a Jadon message because I speak with Jadon every day, I had a conversation yesterday with him. He has just to continue to give his best until the end and this is what we want from Jadon."

It is claimed that United boss Ruben Amorim is looking to use money raised from the sale of Sancho - and potentially Marcus Rashford - to fund his pursuit of a striker come the summer. Liam Delap at Ipswich has been cited as a possible target having impressed at Portman Road.

Amorim knows that, with Champions League qualification unlikely unless the club win the Europa League, he will have to sell some of his assets if he is to make some shrewd summer additions. United have several players out on loan who could move on permanently with Antony joining Sancho and Rashford in playing their football away from Manchester.

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