Stefan Borson: Chelsea star trio want to agree improved deals after ‘strange’ situation
Chelsea are facing a situation over the contracts of some of their first-team stars at Stamford Bridge.
There has been talk around Chelsea extending Moises Caicedo’s contract for some time following the midfielder’s impressive performances in west London.
BBC Sport reported on 21 January Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill are seeking discussions over improved deals, but the Blues want to delay any renewal talks until the summer.
Chelsea are among the clubs paying the highest wages in the Premier League despite their total dropping from £404million in 2022-23 to £338m in their latest published accounts for 2023-24.
However, Deloitte’s 2026 Money League has revealed the London giants’ wage bill increased to £353m last season.
Why Chelsea find themselves in difficult negotiating position
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it was “strange” Chelsea agreed eight-year deals with the likes of Caicedo and Fernandez when they joined the club in 2023.
Fernandez has since extended his contract by a further year at Stamford Bridge to 2032, while academy product Colwill’s deal expires in 2029.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “It’s inevitable that an eight-year contract involves players seeking renegotiation of terms as you go through the contracts.
“That’s why eight-year contracts always felt quite strange because the idea that you just fix yourself into whatever you agree on day one is just obviously nonsense.
“Players are looking around and going, ‘Well, am I getting my market value or not? I’m not being well rewarded’.”
Why Chelsea stars are already earning significant wages
Borson insisted the Chelsea stars seeking improved deals are already on significant wages at Stamford Bridge.
“If you look at Chelsea’s wage bill, it’s £350m, so they’re not on low wages anyway,” said Borson.
“They’re on market wages. As I’ve said before, these players were signed in competitive situations and, therefore, they’re on market rates. Some of them were signed in competition with Liverpool, and we can see Liverpool pay top wages.
“It’s just natural that you have this sort of situation. It’s just the way it works really. Players want to renegotiate if they think they’re doing well, and they think they’re worth more. It will always be like that. It doesn’t matter what length of contract they are on.”
Meanwhile, Deloitte revealed Liverpool now pay the highest wages in the Premier League after their total surged from £386m to £421m last season.
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