Ben Foster doubts Chelsea will sign Jadon Sancho outright

Ben Foster is not convinced Chelsea will sign Jadon Sancho outright, saying the player has not impressed enough and his high wages could see the club opt for a £5m buyout clause.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has expressed doubts that Chelsea will trigger a buyout clause for Jadon Sancho this summer. The original deal would have required Chelsea to sign Sancho for £25m if they finished 14th or higher.

Enzo Maresca’s side are currently fourth, but reports suggest they could pay £5m to terminate his contract rather than buy him outright.

Foster’s Chelsea verdict

Foster, who played for Man Utd from 2005 to 2010, believes the Blues are likely to opt for the cheaper option. On the Fozcast podcast, he shared:

“I would be very surprised if Chelsea decided to buy Sancho outright and pay that amount. He’s not been terrible, but he’s not been explosive either.

If Sancho is playing well, £25m would be a bargain in today’s market. But he’s started 17 Premier League games this season, scored two goals and had four assists. Those are not impressive numbers.”

Sancho’s salary issue

Foster also believes Sancho’s high wages will be the biggest hurdle:

“The big issue is £200,000 a week. Sancho will go back to Man United, and I think he will do the same thing he did at Chelsea. He will play, play well, but not enough to make a difference.”

Chelsea have yet to make a final decision on Sancho’s future. Although they have the option not to buy, they have also negotiated with the intention of keeping this player long-term.