Chelsea's owners want salary cap as 'valuations will go through the roof'
Chelsea's Clearlake Capital ownership would welcome the addition of a salary cap in the Premier League with open arms.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that an influx of American owners into the top flight could bring a cap into effect.
This comes amid recent reports suggesting that the owners of several top European clubs are pushing for both salary caps and caps on agents' fees to be introduced.
Wyness believes that Clearlake "would love" the addition of a wage cap, because it would increase the value of the club on the market, with owners needing to spend less.
He also feels they would welcome the restrictions on agent fees, given the club's erratic transfer business in recent years.
Chelsea splashed out £65million on agent fees in 2025-26, a figure that saw them top the Premier League in that department for the third successive financial year.
Keith Wyness concerned about Premier League 'vote'
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that American owners could "vote" through a potential salary cap in the future.
The Premier League currently has 11 clubs that are majority owned by American outlets, and Wyness has warned that if that number climbs to 16, they would have the power to bring in a salary cap.
Speaking on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he explained why that idea would likely be of huge appeal to Clearlake.
"All the American owners will be pointing to the NFL where, when they brought in a wage cap, the valuation of the franchises in the NFL went through the roof," Wyness said.
"I don't think that's ever going to happen. It's already been tried many times. With UK law, European law, I think it would be very difficult. We've always said that if the Premier League had a wage cap, then if La Liga doesn't or Serie A doesn't, is that a fair European marketplace?
"On the agency side, it's been tried many times again, but I do expect some sort of watered-down agent fee cap to come in within the next three or four years.
"The wage cap situation is still way away from any reality. What could happen is, if we were to get, say, 16 to 18 American owners in the Premier League, then they could potentially vote through anything like that and take the consequences of European football, but we're still a long way from those sorts of situations happening.
"Chelsea would love it because they're private equity guys and they know straight away that would increase the valuation. But that isn't going to necessarily help them win titles, which is what they should be focused on."
Clearlake urged to appoint 'heavyweight' chairman
Wyness previously told Football Insider that Chelsea should be looking to appoint a "heavyweight" football chairman in the wake of Todd Boehly's departure.
Clearlake are yet to install a new man in Boehly's position, but Wyness is adamant that they need someone with ample experience in English football.
The Scottish businessman made it clear that the Blues' ownership could "salvage" their PR situation by appointing a figure who would be well-respected by the fans.
Boehly's time at the club regularly saw financial decisions take precedence, and Wyness believes that Chelsea's fans need to see that the football is still the club's priority.