Exclusive: Chelsea’s January spending power revealed after Liam Rosenior arrives
Chelsea are expected to be quiet in the ongoing January transfer window unless they can make a profit on any potential player sales, sources have told Football Insider.
Enzo Maresca has left Chelsea after his position was deemed untenable following disagreements behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has been replaced by Liam Rosenior, who joined the Blues from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg earlier this week.
Chelsea have slipped to eighth in the Premier League table after claiming just one win in their past nine top-flight games.
Sources have told Football Insider the London giants are “restrained” by their settlement agreement with Uefa, making it difficult for them to back Rosenior with a wave of new signings this month.
Why are Chelsea operating under Uefa settlement agreement?
Chelsea were fined £26.7million by Uefa last summer for breaching its financial rules.
The Blues will face a further £51.2m penalty if they don’t comply with the governing body’s rules in the next four years, requiring Stamford Bridge chiefs to keep their spending in check.
As part of their settlement agreement, the club were also required to have a positive transfer balance in the summer window to register their £296m worth of signings for the Champions League this season.
That led to Chelsea smashing the Premier League record for player sales in a single window after £314m worth of exits were sanctioned last summer.
The Blues have sold several young players for a profit in recent years to balance out their heavy spending under BlueCo, the club’s ownership group spearheaded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Chelsea could strengthen this month if they can once again turn a profit on some of their younger stars, but buying clubs are often less open to agreeing those kinds of deals in the January window.
Why Chelsea are struggling to agree Raheem Sterling sale
A primary focus for Chelsea is finding a new club for out-of-favour star Raheem Sterling before the window closes on 2 February.
The 31-year-old has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge for the past 18 months under Maresca, having spent last season on loan at Arsenal.
Sterling has received interest from multiple Premier League clubs, but his £325,000-a-week wages are proving to be a stumbling block.
The winger’s latest appearance came on the final day of last season, where he helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 victory over Southampton.
Sterling’s contract doesn’t expire at Stamford Bridge until June 2027, having signed a five-year deal following his £50m move from Manchester City in the summer of 2022.
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