02 February 2023 , 22:30
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Graham Potter has insisted Chelsea’s record breaking spending spree is over.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly helped bankroll more than £600m worth of deals in the past two windows which includes a British record £105m deal for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez. They have brought in a staggering 14 new players and cannot even register all of them in their Champions League squad for this season’s campaign.
But the Chelsea boss says he does not envisage more crazy spending in the future. Potter, whose side face Fulham on Friday night, said: “I don’t think the spending will continue as it has.
“There was a regeneration and I think we have to say the next window and the window after will be different, that’s for sure.”
Chelsea are confident that, despite the incredible list of new players including Fernandez and £88m Ukraine star Mykhailo Mudryk, they will be able to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules even if the worst happens and they miss out on the Champions League next season.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Despite the huge outlay on transfers, they have tried to keep their wage structure down and also stagger the fees over lengthy contracts for up to eight years.
Graham Potter is not expecting to do many transfers in the summer (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)But Potter insisted that he can understand why fans regard the spending spree as “mad” - but says they will prove the doubters wrong. Potter added: “I can understand the perspective. I disagree with it but I understand it.
“I think what we have tried to do is be creative. We have tried to invest in the now and the future. We are in a position where we want to keep improving. That is the ambition of the club.”
Potter has admitted that he was not involved in the negotiations that saw Fernandez join Chelsea for a British-record transfer fee of £105million on deadline day - but stressed that he cannot wait to work with the World Cup winner.
Potter said: "I'm the head coach so I don't get too involved in the nitty-gritty of deadline day. I am just totally focused on the next day's training and preparing the team for Fulham.
"I've been involved too long to know that there are some things you can't control and I couldn't do anything at that point to change things. I found out that we’d signed Enzo when it was all done and I'm very pleased, because he is a fantastic player."