‘Chelsea’s rivals will even the score’ after controversial £300m development
Chelsea may have opened a big can of worms in the Premier League after their loophole-busting sales of the women’s team and club hotels to a sister company.
The Premier League was looking to hold a vote to close the loophole and prevent clubs selling assets to sister companies at the division’s annual meeting earlier this month.
However, The Times have reported (4 June) the proposal didn’t even go to a vote after it became clear there was not enough support in the room for the motion to pass.
It has been widely reported that Chelsea can now spend £300million in this summer window without breaking Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) as a result of their controversial moves.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted the Premier League have “made their own bed” by allowing Chelsea’s transactions to pass unchallenged.
Chelsea have been ‘very bright’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness praised Chelsea’s “very bright” executives for spotting an opportunity to maximise their position.
The Blues sold their women’s team to owners BlueCo last summer for around £200million, helping them turn their previous £90million loss for the 2022-23 campaign into a £128million profit for 2023-24.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “On this particular issue, the Premier League couldn’t even get enough interest to get a vote going.
“There was obviously no level of support to close this loophole.
“I think the clubs feel it would be shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
“They’ll be looking to get the same level of benefits as Chelsea, and will look to do similar deals in the future.
“Or they could keep them in their back pocket, should they need them.
“The Premier League have made their own bed here. Once they let one go, then all the others will have to be allowed.
“Chelsea’s private equity guys have been very bright to spot this loophole, but now there is no appetite to see it closed.
“This will also add to the valuations of clubs. That’s something else which will not have escaped owners.
“That’s another big reason it was not voted on.”
Chelsea will accept offers for two first-teamers
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (10 June) that Chelsea will accept offers for first-team duo Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi this summer.
Trevoh Chalobah is attracting interest from Napoli and Premier League clubs, but Football Insider has revealed (10 June) he is not at the top of Chelsea’s unwanted list.
Maresca and his transfer team will instead look to move French duo Badiashile, 24, and Disasi, 27, on before the 2025-26 campaign gets underway.
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