Enzo Maresca reveals truth behind Jadon Sancho transfer warning | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has denied warning Jadon Sancho that he is playing for his future at Stamford Bridge.

Sancho moved to Chelsea on a season-long loan from Manchester United last summer in a deal which includes an obligation for the Blues to sign him permanently for a fee of around £25m.

However, it later emerged that Chelsea have the option to pull out of their purchase obligation and send Sancho back to United for just £5m. A final decision is not yet thought to have been made on the winger, who has three goals and ten assists in 34 appearances for the club to date.

After that news emerged, Sancho has enjoyed a real upturn in form. April has brought three assists in two Conference League games against Legia Warsaw and a stunning strike to rescue a draw with Ipswich Town, but Maresca insisted that was not due to any sort of challenge from him.

"The only thing we said to Jadon, and all our offensive players, is that we need more, in terms of numbers, goals and assists," Maresca told the media.

"So Jadon, in the last games, is doing better. But we need goal and assist from Nico [Jackson], from Cole [Palmer], from Noni [Madueke], from Pedro [Neto], from Enzo [Fernandez], who is doing well, from the ones that arrive in the opposite box..."

Even if Chelsea do opt to sign Sancho permanently, there is no guarantee the winger will remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer transfer window.

Indeed, it was recently speculated that the 25-year-old has already decided that he wants to return to the Bundesliga this year, earmarking a reunion with Borussia Dortmund as his top priority.

A return to United appears to be out of the question, with his high wages and poor relationship with the rest of the dressing room making a departure almost a certainty.