Chelsea are reportedly weighing up a late move for Manchester United's Jadon Sancho are are hopeful that an audacious swap deal can be struck including Raheem Sterling.
Sancho unexpectedly buried the hatchet with Erik ten Hag earlier this summer following their September spat last year, which culminated in the English winger being frozen out of the squad.
However, despite featuring on a regular basis for the Red Devils in pre-season, Sancho has been left out of their opening two Premier League squads against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ten Hag has affirmed that Sancho is fighting for his right to play alongside the rest of his teammates, but a permanent exit before Friday's transfer deadline is still thought to be the most likely outcome to the saga.
A return to Borussia Dortmund - where he spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan - is not feasible, while talks with Paris Saint-Germain led to nowhere either, but Juventus are apparently interested in an eleventh-hour swoop.
Man United 'aware' of Chelsea interest in Sancho
Alternatively, The Telegraph claims that Sancho could be handed a Premier League lifeline by Chelsea, who are exploring a late deal and are also prepared to throw their own attacking outcast in Sterling.
Like Sancho, the former Liverpool and Manchester City winger has also been ostracised from Enzo Maresca's squad - despite playing in pre-season - and is searching for a new club before the transfer window slams shut.
Man United are apparently aware of Chelsea's interest in Sancho, who has registered just 12 goals and six assists in 83 matches for the Red Devils, but the Blues have not made a formal move for the winger just yet.
The report adds that a move to Juventus is still more likely than a Stamford Bridge switch for Sancho, whom Man United have slapped a £40m valuation on, but they could also be open to a loan with an obligation to buy.
However, if Sancho is to leave on a temporary basis, the Red Devils would apparently demand that his wages are covered in full, something which could pose an issue in negotiations with Juventus.
Would a Sterling, Sancho transfer swap work?
At face value, Sterling and Sancho heading in opposite directions would immediately solve one problem for both Chelsea and Man United, who would each rid themselves of one exiled attacker with no future at the club.
Whether Sancho would actually get a look-in at Chelsea is another question entirely, though, as Pedro Neto can expect regular minutes after his big-money switch, while Noni Madueke may have made himself undroppable with his Wolverhampton Wanderers hat-trick.
A spot could open up for the Englishman if Mykhaylo Mudryk quickly falls out of favour under Maresca, who has not hidden his frustrations with the Ukrainian so far, but Chelsea must surely spend the final days of the window prioritising the signing of a seasoned striker.
Sterling could perhaps expect better fortunes at Man United, as his arrival could give Marcus Rashford the kick he needs to rediscover his best form, but Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo have certainly proven their starting credentials.
The Chelsea attacker would likely have to accept a hit on his £300,000-a-week wages too, so even though such a sensational swap would no doubt be the deal of the summer, it is one that should perhaps remain a fantasy.
