Chelsea transfer window plans thrown into disarray over UEFA's strict FFP rules
Chelsea are braced for another busy summer in the transfer market - and it could get even tougher if they qualify for Europe.
The club hierarchy are under pressure to balance the books to stay within the Premier League ’s strict Profit and Sustainability Rules. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has spent in excess of £1billion since taking over and there are fears that they will have to sell to fall within the Prem’s strict rules.
Clubs are only allowed to lose up to £105m over three years and Everton and Nottingham Forest have already fallen foul of PSR. But UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules are potentially even more strict in spending and turnover terms and that is certain to be a major concern if Chelsea do somehow manage to get into the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
They will have to sell this summer with Academy Graduates Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja at the top of the list of potential exits as you maximise profit on homegrown players.
But Chelsea do still want to buy to reshape the squad and that means there could be more players going to make sure they can still bring in transfer targets with a No9 at the top of their wish list.
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Chelsea have got Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen on their wish list. It could be difficult for Chelsea to bring in top names if they are not in Europe - and yet it could be a Catch 22 for the club if they do get into Europe.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is under the spotlight after a rollercoaster season which has seen them lose the Carabao Cup final, they are in the FA Cup quarter finals which gives them a potential European passport and they are stuck in mid-table in the Premier League.
Pochettino boasts the youngest squad in the Premier League - Chelsea’s starting line-up for the Carabao Cup final had an average age of 23.9 years and they finished the match with an age of 22.6 - and the boss insists it will take time and patience for them to come to fruition.
Victor Osimhen is on Chelsea's transfer wish list (Getty Images)But they are likely to have offload Broja who is currently on loan at Fulham while Gallagher is a target for Tottenham. Broja was popular in the summer and his profile means there will be takers.
Gallagher is a complex one because he will have 12 months left on his deal this summer and has yet to agree new terms.
Chelsea are likely to sell if they cannot persuade him to sign and there is also a discussion as to whether they can afford the sort of big money deal he wants and whether he can also help them become a Champions League club again.
Despite Raheem Sterling getting some stick from Chelsea fans, Pochettino has made it clear that he likes him as a player, character in the dressing room and leader for younger players.
One of their biggest deals was £89m for Ukraine star Mykhailo Mudryk and they beat Arsenal to his signature. However, Mudryk has failed to live up to the price tag and yet there is still interest in the super fast winger and they may be able to get a decent fee if they decide to cut their losses.
Romelu Lukaku has enjoyed a mixed season on loan at Roma from Chelsea (Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto)Arsenal were long term admirers and it remains to be seen whether they would ever entertain going back but there would be no shortage of takers elsewhere in Europe.
Incredibly, Romelu Lukaku is still a Chelsea player despite being loaned out again to Roma but they will look to complete a permanent deal to draw the line under his disastrous £97.5m move to Stamford Bridge three years ago.
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Marc Cucurella is another big money investment who could be sacrificed as the ex-Brighton defender recovers after surgery.
The issue for Chelsea is that they will be under pressure to balance the books to meet with financial deadlines but also to help sign new players in the summer. Rival clubs will be able to see that a mile off because Chelsea are under pressure with PSR looming large and it would be unthinkable for them to get punished and face a huge punishment.
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