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.
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Deals, rumours, news on your phone
- Got Sky? Watch Chelsea games LIVE on your phone 📱
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺
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.
Analysis: Can Chelsea revive Sancho career?
Sky Sports' Zinny Boswell:
Jadon Sancho's attempts to relaunch his career at Chelsea have so far fallen flat and the emergence of this get-out clause only serves to highlight how far his star has fallen.
Chelsea are expected to hold up their end of the deal and pay the £25m fee negotiated with Manchester United as part of the loan agreed in the summer.
But the mere fact this conversation is being had about a player who four years ago was signed from Dortmund for £73m says a lot about where Sancho finds himself currently.
Last season's loan with Dortmund and that run to the Champions League final had raised expectations that Sancho might thrive away from the glare of the Old Trafford spotlight and the early signs were positive at Chelsea, but he has since regressed.
We are once again seeing the confidence-shy, risk-averse Sancho we saw at United. Enzo Maresca isn't getting much from any of his forwards right now, it is true, but Sancho has never been a consistent performer in the Premier League.
There is no getting away from the fact Sancho has only ever been at the top of his game when playing for Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Chelsea must now hope he can recapture that form in England.
If he can, £25m will be considered a bargain. But, as it stands, Man Utd are likely to be glad when this deal goes through.
