Chelsea: Five attackers the Blues could target in January
By Mike Malley
2. Jadon Sancho
One of Haaland’s teammates at Borussia Dortmund, Jadon Sancho, would be another great signing for Chelsea in January. The exciting playmaker has had a difficult start to this season’s Bundesliga campaign, but his potential to become a top winger in the world is unquestionable.
The Sancho transfer saga was one of the biggest headlines last summer when it seemed obvious the 20-year-old would leave Signal Iduna Park, most likely for Old Trafford. A large disparity in Sancho’s valuation between Manchester United and Dortmund prevented the transfer from taking place, forcing the Englishman to stay in Germany for at least another few months.
The drama surrounding the potential move appears to have had a negative impact on Sancho, as he has struggled to replicate his form from last year thus far. He is yet to score in 11 Bundesliga appearances, but has assisted four times in the league. Sancho’s play has been slightly better in the Champions League, in which he has scored twice and made two assists in five appearances.
Despite these statistical woes, Sancho’s arrival at Stamford Bridge would be a massive boost for this Chelsea side that is struggling to create attacking opportunities. Sancho is without question one of the top dribblers in Europe, and his goal-scoring ability is fairly impressive for a forward that is usually deployed on the wings. Competition for playing time would be fierce, and one of Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi would likely fall to the fringes of the squad.
With all that being said, Chelsea making a move for Sancho in January is highly improbable. Reports from the summer claimed that Dortmund was holding out for an offer around €120 million, which Abramovic might be hesitant to spend. Sancho is under contract in Germany until 2023, so he probably won’t be able to force his way out of the club either.
The one advantage that Chelsea hold over competitors for Sancho’s signature is his friendship with many of the Blues’ young English talent. Supporters might remember Tammy Abraham’s controversial birthday party from October, which caused he, Sancho, and Ben Chillwell to be barred from the English national team’s training sessions for a few days. While that episode is better off forgotten, the fact that Sancho breached COVID protocols to celebrate with Abraham shows how close the two players are. Whether in January or further down the line, Agent Tammy Abraham will have to play a role in bringing Sancho to west London.