Chelsea have reportedly not ruled out rekindling their interest in on-loan Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mathys Tel if they decide against signing Jadon Sancho permanently.
The Blues extended an olive branch to Manchester United-owned Sancho last summer and also agreed an obligation to buy the England international for around £25m at the end of the season.
However, there is believed to be a loophole in the terms of Sancho's contract that could see Chelsea refuse to honour the obligation and instead send the winger back to Old Trafford while paying a small penalty fee of around £5m.
That scenario is now considered increasingly likely as a result of Sancho's recent struggles, as the 25-year-old has failed to score or provide an assist in any of his last 11 Premier League appearances.
Sancho did set up two goals in Thursday's 3-0 Conference League quarter-final first-leg win over Legia Warsaw, but his last Premier League goal came all the way back in December 2024 against Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea 'refuse to rule out' reigniting Tel interest
© Iconsport
In the event that Chelsea decide not to keep Sancho, and Tottenham also choose not to trigger their option to sign Tel permanently, GIVEMESPORT claims that the Blues could try again for the latter this summer.
Enzo Maresca's side were strongly linked with an approach for Tel during the last knockings of the January transfer window, but they decided against firming up their initial interest, as did Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Bayern Munich-owned attacker has not set the world alight in Tottenham colours, though, only managing two goals from 10 games in all competitions, including a penalty against rock-bottom Southampton last weekend.
Spurs can trigger a £45m clause to keep Tel on the books permanently, which the Lilywhites are supposedly considering doing, but the report claims that Chelsea will be in the mix again if their London rivals let him go.
The 19-year-old is said to fit the brief in terms of what Chelsea are looking for from a new wide option, but they would have to negotiate a fee with Bayern if Spurs pass up their permanent option, and the German side are under no pressure to let him go cheaply.
Tel's contract at the Allianz Arena runs until the summer of 2029, and given Spurs agreed a £45m option to buy in January, the German giants would certainly still demand a profit on the €20m (£17.4m) they paid to sign him from Rennes in 2022.
Tel's arrival could signal new attacking revolution at Chelsea
© IconSport
While Chelsea are currently being forced to play the 'waiting game' with Tel to see what course of action Tottenham take, the Blues are guaranteed to be bolstering their attacking ranks with a few young talents soon.
Maresca's team unexpectedly beat Manchester United to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda, while Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez will soon arrive in West London too.
The youthful trio could act as successors to the likes of Sancho, Joao Felix - on loan at AC Milan - and Mykhaylo Mudryk, still serving a provisional doping suspension after a positive test in late 2024.
In addition to new wide options, Chelsea are finally expected to address the number nine issue this summer, and Maresca recently revealed what makes his "perfect" centre-forward.
Ben Knapton
