Man Utd chiefs 'expecting Chelsea phone call' as Red Devils encounter Jadon Sancho problem

Senior figures at Manchester United are reportedly expecting Chelsea to make an approach for Jadon Sancho before the end of the summer transfer window. Sancho was left out of the matchday squad that beat Fulham last week, raising fresh questions over his club future.

The wide man was battling an ear infection in the lead-up to the game but would have been fit enough to play, according to manager Erik ten Hag.

Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford started on the flanks with Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to assist fellow substitute Joshua Zirkzee for an 87th-minute winner.

Sancho and Ten Hag have made up since last season’s rift, but United are still keen to cut their losses on the 24-year-old. According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have pinned a £40million price tag to Sancho after shelling out almost twice that much three years ago.

But his wages are proving to be a stumbling block. Sancho is one of the highest earners at Old Trafford and the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, who have been credited with interest during the current window, are not believed to be actively pursuing the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Chelsea could yet offer Sancho a new exit route as the same report states that some United chiefs are expecting the Londoners to table an offer.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea squad is already overflowing with wingers, to the extent that Raheem Sterling didn’t even make it into the matchday squad for Manchester City’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Noni Madueke, who performed brilliantly during pre-season, was an unused substitute.

But the heights Sancho hit during his time in Dortmund could make him too tempting a prospect for Chelsea’s sporting directors to pass up on. Sancho spent time in Man City’s academy before signing for BVB in 2017.

A return of 50 goals in 137 games followed, leading to three years as a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England team. Sancho’s subsequent £73m move to United has turned out to be a major disappointment.

Now into his fourth season at Old Trafford, the London-born winger’s best Premier League campaign saw him finish on six goals. And last season’s falling-out with Ten Hag saw him shipped back out to Dortmund for a brief loan spell.