Exclusive: Chelsea to keep spending amid ‘bizarre’ PSR update
Chelsea are committed to improving their squad after a strong first season under Enzo Maresca and their high-level spending will likely continue this summer.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively there was little reason for the club’s transfer business to slow down, given the amount of breathing room they had with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
The Blues will return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence, and will do so as Conference League champions after dismantling Real Betis 4-1.
With Man City in the middle of a rebuild and Arsenal failing to improve on their squad so far this summer, Maresca’s side may well be sensing an opportunity to compete for the Premier League title next season.
Estevao, Kendry Paez, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr have all joined the Blues after their transfers were agreed in advance of the summer window, and Chelsea have also completed the signing of Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
But despite their desires to continue closing the gap to champions Liverpool, squad balance remains an issue for the free-spending Blues.
Chelsea women’s team sale to fund further spending
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley thinks the Blues will continue to spend, thanks in large part to the club selling their women’s team to themselves.
That decision has allowed the West London club to create “the most headroom in the Premier League” in terms of PSR, although the senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University does find that situation “bizarre”.
Despite just signing Delap, Chelsea remain interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike as well as Jamie Gittens at Borussia Dortmund, but Plumley warned the club needed to be “mindful” of their squad balance.
He said: “How many times have we said with Chelsea, we don’t expect them to spend, and then they spend big?
“So don’t rule it out, and also caveat that with the big thing of course in the crazy world where we’re talking about PSR.
“The sale of the women’s team and the head room that has given them, they’ve got the most headroom in the Premier League now in terms of if you look at what they can afford to lose, which is such a bizarre thing to be saying.
“They’ve got no issues there, we’ve already seen them spend, and I wouldn’t rule out any further spending.
“They’ve still got that issue with squad balance, and it is a big squad, and we’ve seen it grow in recent years.
“They’ve got to be mindful of that internally, but financially, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them spend because that sale of the women’s team has just given them so much headroom now if they wanted to go and spend some more money.”
Chelsea eye deal for Mohammed Kudus as summer spending continues
The Blues seem keen to make the most of their strong PSR situation, and Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider exclusively Chelsea are interested in West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.
But Maresca’s side will face competition for the Ghanaian’s signature from Newcastle, who are keen to find a new right-winger after missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.
Chelsea have plenty of options at the position, including Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto, but none who have stood out as clear first-choice options.
Despite enduring a poor season at West Ham, Kudus is still revered as one of the Premier League’s most talented wide men, and a new setting could be just what the 24-year-old needs to rediscover his form.