Geovany Quenda is set to join Chelsea in 2026 (Getty) Geovany Quenda favoured a move to Chelsea ahead of Manchester United due to his desire to play as a winger, according to reports. It’s understood that Chelsea have clinched a deal to sign Quenda from Sporting CP in a deal that could be worth up to €50 million (£42.1m) with add-ons. As part of the agreement, Quenda will move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026. Quenda signed his first professional contract with Sporting in August 2023 and was given his first-team debut by Ruben Amorim the following year. After Amorim’s switch to Old Trafford last November, United were quickly linked with a move for Quenda and reports in Portugal claimed in January that the club had reached their own €60m (£50.1m) agreement with Sporting for the 17-year-old. However, United have now lost out to Chelsea with Amorim forced to look at alternative options to bolster his attack. Geovany Quenda had attracted interest from Manchester United (Getty) According to The i Paper, a key factor behind Quenda’s decision to join Chelsea over United is his desire to play as a winger, rather than as a wing-back in Amorim’s system. The report also adds that Chelsea are also considering the prospect of paying a penalty fee so that Jadon Sancho can return to United in the summer Sancho joined Chelsea on loan at the end of the transfer window last summer but has struggled for consistency under Enzo Maresca this season. Chelsea currently have an obligation to buy Sancho for £25m if they finish 14th or higher in the Premier League this season. But Chelsea are able to avoid signing Sancho on a permanent deal if they pay a ‘significant fee’ to United. It’s understood that United have no plans to reintegrate Sancho, who they signed from Borussia Dortmund for £72.9m in 2021, and will look to sell the 24-year-old this summer if he returns from Chelsea. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.