Chelsea intensify efforts to sign £30m star from second division club in search of Jadon Sancho alternative: report

Sancho is set to make a permanent move from Manchester United to Chelsea for a reported fee of £25 million in the upcoming summer transfer window. Despite high expectations, the winger has struggled to find his form this season, contributing only two goals and six assists in 26 appearances across all competitions. His inconsistent performances have prevented him from solidifying his place in Enzo Maresca's starting lineup.

"Step by step. I know I can do better, especially in front of goal. It's annoying not to score, but I know it'll come," Sancho told Chelsea's official website.

Chelsea keen to provide more competition to Jadon Sancho

With Chelsea seeking Champions League football for next term, Sancho will certainly have to pick up his performances if he is to establish himself in the side.

That's because Chelsea, not adverse to making new signings, have already started looking ahead to the summer transfer window, with one left-winger from a second division side having caught the club's eye.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Chelsea are set to return in the summer - along with Italian sides Napoli and Como - in an attempt to sign Yeremay Hernandez from Deportivo La Coruna, after having their pursuit ended in the window just gone.

Chelsea were close to matching his £17m release clause in the winter window, but Deportivo showed strength in the transfer market and kept hold of their star talent, agreeing a new contract that now sees Hernandez's release clause rise to £30m.

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The report suggests that, with Deportivo unlikely to achieve their goal of returning to La Liga, due to their position of 11th in Spain's Segunda Division and failure to keep pace with the promotion-chasing pack, the club are now resigned to losing Hernandez in the summer.

With nine goals and four assists in 27 games for Deportivo, the 22-year-old has impressed the Chelsea hierarchy with his close control and eye for a pass, much like Sancho right now.

In FourFourTwo's view, £30m is an awful lot of money for a player in the second tier of Spanish football who hasn't exactly set the league alight and who is valued at just £1.7m by Transfermarkt. It seems more likely that the Blues would return in the summer and attempt to prise him away in a cut-price deal, despite his contract running until 2030.

Chelsea are back in European action on Thursday night as they play Copenhagen in the second leg of their Conference League tie.