Stefan Borson suggests real reason Chelsea are selling Conor Gallagher
Chelsea are likely selling Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid to help cover some of their substantial operating losses and meet the profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the west London club are currently losing £200million a year at the operating level and need to make “very significant” sales to bridge that gap.
Sky Sports reported on 2 August Chelsea told Gallagher he would only be a squad player under new manager Enzo Maresca if he remained at Stamford Bridge.
Atletico have agreed a £34million deal for the England international, who completed his medical in the Spanish capital on 8 August.
Chelsea’s finances have been under the spotlight over the past couple of years, with the London giants making several player sales as well as some non-football-related property transactions to help them remain within the PSR rules.
Chelsea are selling Conor Gallagher to meet PSR rules
Borson revealed the Gallagher sale is likely to be another move to meet the financial regulations after he’s agreed to join the La Liga club.
“It’s very difficult to read what Chelsea are up to,” Borson told Football Insider.
“From a PSR perspective, we know they lose £200million a year at the operating level. They are building up to lose a very similar amount for the season that we are now currently in.
“Every year they have got to make very significant player trading or other asset sales at profit to not breach PSR. The Gallagher sale is one of the steps that they have taken so far.
“They have got a very big hole to fill every year that they are not in the Champions League and they don’t have a front-of-shirt sponsor.
“Those two elements together are worth the best part of £100million of profit. That makes a huge difference.
“I suspect the Gallagher situation is partly tactical and partly about PSR, but it’s very hard to properly understand what the plan is at the moment at Chelsea because they keep spending.”
In other news, Chelsea to complete A-list striker signing after deal agreed.
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