By Kieran Maguire

21st Apr, 2023 | 1:00pm

Kieran Maguire issues 'huge' Chelsea claim amid £127m accounts reveal - 'incredible'

Chelsea will find it ‘incredibly difficult’ to agree new shirt sponsorships with no European football next season.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about Chelsea’s financial issues this season.

Since Todd Boehly’s takeover at Stamford Bridge, the Blues have spent £600million on signings over the summer and January transfer window.

Chelsea recorded a net loss of £121.3million in their latest accounts release, and there have also been payments behind the scenes to Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia for their role in selling the club.

The London giants are also facing sponsorship issues, with their front-of-shirt Three deal set to be replaced this summer, and their sleeve sponsorship with WhaleFin terminated back in December.

Maguire believes Chelsea are set for a ‘significant hit’ thanks to their transfer strategy, and revealed that Chelsea have paid out £127m in impairment costs and to Buck and Granovskaia.

“We have seen an acceleration of costs in the 2022 accounts, including a £77m impairment cost and a £50m compensation fee to Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia for helping to sell the club,” Maguire told Football Insider.

“There are huge numbers going through the accounts of Chelsea right now.

“I think they have set themselves up for a significant hit after their scattergun approach to player trading.

“One other issue for Chelsea is that their front-of-shirt deal with Three and their sleeve partnership are both due to expire this summer.

“With no European football secured this season, it will be incredibly difficult to negotiate top tier-deals in those areas.“

In other news, Chelsea hit by crushing £52m blow as FFP crisis deepens