Jadon Sancho can repeat Erik ten Hag decision with £25m Man United transfer response

Manchester United will watch with interest on Wednesday evening as Jadon Sancho plays his final match on loan at Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final.

The Blues have an obligation to buy Sancho for between £20million and £25m this summer as United look to recoup some of the £72.9m paid for him in 2021. The winger made a bright start to life at Stamford Bridge with four assists in his first three Premier League games for Enzo Maresca's side.

But that form has only proven to be fleeting, with the former Borussia Dortmund star becoming an anonymous presence on the pitch for much of 2025, with just a single goal and assist this year for Chelsea in the league.

It's why there is so much talk of the Blues exercising their option to opt out of an obligation to buy Sancho this summer. Paying a £5m penalty fee is sensible instead of paying potentially four times that amount for a player who has shown little promise at Stamford Bridge.

It feels increasingly possible that Sancho will become United's problem once again this summer when he returns for the club's pre-season in July.

Yet there is a scenario in which he could end up staying in West London, in what would be a welcome relief for United. The 25-year-old started Chelsea's most recent game on Sunday against Nottingham Forest - arguably their most important fixture of the campaign.

The 1-0 win at Forest secured a place in next season's Champions League and a £100m cash boost. Sancho starting such a crucial game indicates that Maresca has some trust in United's loanee.

If he starts Wednesday's final against Real Betis and goes on to perform well, could that be enough to convince Chelsea to sign him permanently? The emotion of winning a first major trophy since 2021,