Chelsea Exclusive: Expert issues exits verdict after 'huge amount of money' banked
Chelsea's have concerns about registering players for the Champions League and that will factor into their summer transfer business.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that UEFA's continued threat of sanctions against the West London side would factor into their squad building.
Chelsea were slapped with a record-breaking fine by the European governing body for failing to comply with their financial rules.
The fine of €31million (£26.7m) [BBC Sport], with a potential further fine of €60m (£51.2m) if they continue to fail to meet the regulations, was largely offset by the £85m [Sky Sports] in prize money the Blues claimed for winning the Club World Cup.
However, as outlined by The Times, that money matters little when it comes to the sporting sanctions that have been agreed with UEFA.
Chelsea are unable to add players to their squad for the Champions League next season unless they can show that their "List A transfer balance is positive".
That means that any players bought that the club wish to add to their squad for European competition must be covered by "the income of outgoing players".
Chelsea must sell players this summer
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, finance expert Plumley outlined the importance of selling players this summer.
Chelsea have brought in several players including Estevao from Palmeiras, Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, and Joao Pedro from Brighton as part of a total outlay of over £200m [transfermarkt], whilst selling just £44m worth of players, with the bulk of that figure coming as part of Djordje Petrovic's move to Bournemouth.
Plumley explained that whilst the club had banked a "huge amount of money", several players would need to leave this summer due to UEFA's regulations.
He said: “I think it comes down to sales ultimately, and we’ve seen a lot of reports that are suggesting the same thing.
“They've got to get players out of the door to make that equation work, not just because of the sheer size of the squad, but also where the registrations are for the Champions League and what they've got to do to comply with UEFA for any other sanctions that they might face. It has to be based on how the squad all ends up.
“If you look at the money side of it, and they have banked a huge amount of money, around £80m for getting to the final. It's a few extra million to win it, which is great.
“The money's still been good no matter what, but I think if you look at it in relation to the Champions League and the squad registration, it's got to be about getting a couple of players out of the door, possibly even more than that.”
Chelsea to flog bomb squad to Saudi Arabia
With a need to sell, Plumley previously told Football Insider that Chelsea will be targeting the Saudi Pro League as a landing spot for several of their unwanted players this summer.
Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, and Raheem Sterling are just a few of the plethora of players on the outskirts of Enzo Maresca's squad who may be on their way to the Middle East.
The SPL have targeted several high-profile players, such as Bruno Fernandes, Victor Osimhen, and Mohamed Salah, but have come up short in their efforts to tempt the stars away from European football.
Instead, the senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University expects there to be a late flurry of activity that aims to bring some slightly less prized assets to Saudi Arabia, and Chelsea will be hoping to take advantage of that.