Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly will have to raise significant funds through player sales this summer to avoid breaking the Premier League's financial fair play rules. This comes as the Blues have reported substantial losses for the second season in a row, as the Times reports.
Despite recording a large profit on player sales during that time, the club reported a £121million loss for last season, following on from further losses of £153.4million for 2020/21. These figures haven't stopped Boehly spending big in the transfer market, with the club having spent around £600million during his two windows since taking joint ownership of the club last May.
This outlay, coupled with an anticipated drop in prize money due to a poor season on the pitch, has led to some concern over whether they could be in breach of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules for this year, although the club say they have complied with them. The rules allow maximum losses of £105million over a rolling three-year period, leaving Chelsea in a sticky situation if they record another set of hefty losses this time next year.
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At the moment, the three-year span includes 2019/20, when the club notched up a profit of £32.5million. However, that will have been removed when the next financial figures for this campaign get released.
As a result, Boehly and Co. may be forced into a huge summer fire sale in an effort to balance the books. They will have to act quickly to make the appropriate impact though, as this season's financial accounts are recorded up until June 30, otherwise a charge could be in the offing.
A comparison can be made with Everton, who were charged for being in breach of these regulations last week. They tried to escape a charge by selling Richarlison to Tottenham during the last summer transfer window, but this appeared in vain despite continuing to defend their position.
As well as being under the Premier League's spending microscope, Chelsea were also named as one of four English sides - alongside Manchester City, West Ham United and Leicester City - to be closely monitored by Uefa last September. However, a mass summer exodus could alleviate any concerns, and help manager Graham Potter trim down his bloated squad in the process.
Boehly will already be planning for a busy summer transfer window that could see as many as 10 players leave Stamford Bridge. The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic are all facing uncertain futures at Chelsea and could see the club receive a huge transfer windfall by selling them this summer.
Talks with Mason Mount over a new contract have not been productive so far with Liverpool and Manchester United both linked with signing the Chelsea star. Ruben Loftus-Cheek attracted interest from Newcastle in January and could leave to play regular first-team football elsewhere.
Pulisic was linked with a move away from Chelsea last summer but ended up staying put despite interest from teams in Serie A. Other players that could leave include Baba Rahman, Malang Sarr and Tiemoue Bakayoko who have all spent the 2022/23 campaign out on loan.
According to CIES Football Observatory, the following players could see the Blues receive a combined figure of £182million to raise some much-needed funds.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - £5.2million
- Baba Rahman - £1.5million
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek - £13.2million
- Edouard Mendy - £22million
- Hakim Ziyech - £17.6million
- Christian Pulisic - £35.2million
- Mason Mount - £61.7million
- Romelu Lukaku - £17.6million
- Malang Sarr - £7million
- Tiemoue Bakayoko - £800k
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