(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung - Breaking Media)

James Murray

Thu 21 May 2026 8:00, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Chelsea could “sell more players” this summer if they decide to forfeit their potential Conference League place.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider qualifying for the third-tier competition would be a “negative” for the Blues.

Chelsea moved up to eighth in the Premier League table following their 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Tuesday (19 May).

It means the west London giants are currently on course to compete in the Conference League next season, having won the competition in 2024-25.

However, Chelsea could qualify for the Europa League if they can secure a victory on the final day of the season and seventh-place Brighton fail to claim all three points.

Why Chelsea are set to face financial restrictions next season

Chelsea could lose more than £100m in revenue as a result of missing out on a Champions League place.

Meanwhile, the Blues are currently in a settlement agreement with Uefa after previously breaching the governing body’s financial rules.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson discussed the difference between qualifying for the Europa League and the Conference League.

“Obviously, they can qualify for the Europa League,” he said.

“The Conference League is a negative for them net-net. I still believe there’s a very realistic chance that if they got the Conference League only, they would rip it up and say, ‘We’re not bothering. We’ll breach the settlement agreement, we’ll start again, and we’ll take a season out of the Conference League’.

“There would be some restrictions in terms of what they can spend. The change of rules will mean that there are fewer tricks and clever loopholes they can try and find. No doubt they’ll try and find something, but it’s going to be very difficult for them to do so. 

“But it would also free up the calendar, so it may mean that they take a view that they can run on a much smaller squad and, therefore, they can sell more players, bringing in a whole load of cash and a whole lot of player-trading profit that will then set them up if they then were to re-qualify for European competition for 2027-28.”

Why Europa League qualification could be meaningful for Chelsea

Borson insisted qualifying for the Europa League would be much more rewarding for Chelsea.

“The Europa League is a different problem in that it’s very hard to just sort of say, ‘We’re not going to bother’ because Villa and Spurs have shown that you don’t want to be out of the Europe League,” said Borson.

“The Europa League is not a free option because it’s very difficult to play Thursday and Sunday, and there are so many games, but it is a winnable competition that does have a Champions League place with it.

“It means that very few clubs are going to just rip up the possibility of going into the Europa League, even though financially it’s obviously worth a lot less than the Champions League.”

Chelsea are set to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday (24 May), while Brighton take on Manchester United at the Amex Stadium as they look to secure Europa League qualification.