Joe Cole Urges Chelsea to Reconsider Jadon Sancho Buy Clause After Conference League Final Heroics
The former Blues star believes Sancho has proven his worth and insists Chelsea must act fast to avoid a major transfer mistake.
Jadon Sancho may have just played his way into Chelsea’s long-term plans — and former Blues star Joe Cole is leading the calls for the club to keep him.
The 24-year-old winger, who joined Chelsea on loan from Manchester United last summer, ended his season on a high by scoring in the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis. His impressive performance helped the Blues lift the trophy and put a strong case forward for a permanent move to Stamford Bridge.
Sancho signed a season-long loan deal with Chelsea at the end of the 2024 summer transfer window, which included a £25 million obligation to buy. However, the Blues reportedly have an option to back out of the deal if they pay a £5 million release fee.
This has left fans and pundits wondering what Chelsea will decide after a mixed but largely positive campaign for Sancho. The England international featured in 41 matches, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists — including his memorable strike in the final.
Speaking before Chelsea’s European final win, club legend Joe Cole made his stance very clear. The former midfielder told TNT Sports:
“I think Jadon is a really great player and I think he’s done well. He’s been rotated in and out a bit, but I want to see Jadon playing. You want a player like that in your squad. It will come down to a financial decision I imagine, but I really like him.”
When asked if Sancho had done enough to earn a permanent deal, Cole didn’t hesitate:
“Yes I do. This is a kid who went to Dortmund and was a superstar. It wasn’t working at Man United, but he’s done well and got his career back on track at Chelsea. I think there’s more to come from him as well.”
Despite Cole’s praise, reports suggest Chelsea could still send Sancho back to Manchester United. Fabrizio Romano recently reported that it’s a “concrete possibility” the winger returns to Old Trafford, as the club weighs up its summer budget.
If Chelsea decide not to sign Sancho, United will once again be stuck trying to offload a player they don’t see as part of their future. Given how his time at United fell apart — with Sancho being frozen out by Erik ten Hag and briefly returning to Borussia Dortmund — it’s unlikely he’d want to stay at Old Trafford either.
Sancho’s future will likely be decided in the coming days as Chelsea begin their summer transfer business. With the season wrapped up and a trophy in the bag, decisions over loan players and potential signings will be made quickly.
