Chelsea must find ‘secret magic sum’ to avoid breaking financial rules
The Blues may lose a 'key asset or two'.
Chelsea and five other Premier League clubs must find a ‘secret magic sum’ to avoid breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR), according to reports.
The Blues are the only big six club under financial pressure but there are other top-flight teams in the same boat, including Champions League side Aston Villa.
Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City are the other Premier League clubs who will have to sell some players to comply with PSR rules.
Chelsea and the five other sides could be set to lose a ‘key asset or two’ in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
BlueCo are doing everything they can to avoid punishment with co-owner Todd Boehly travelling to Saudi Arabia earlier this year in a bid to raise funds.
Chelsea are hoping to sell a number of players to clubs in the Saudi Pro League including forgotten striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku recently revealed his desire to secure a transfer to the Middle East as he told HLN: ‘Saudi Arabia wouldn’t stop me.
‘The level will only rise there. To a much higher level than many people think. More and more footballers will tend to play there. All the major European top clubs know that: Saudi Arabia is coming.’
Meanwhile, Chelsea could sell academy graduate Conor Gallagher this summer to help comply with PSR, with the player wanted by Tottenham and Aston Villa.
The Blues are also expecting much interest in another academy graduate – Trevoh Chalobah – and have put a £25m price tag on the defender for this summer.
Why are academy graduates at risk?
Clubs under pressure to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) may look to prioritise selling academy graduates as they represent pure profit on the balance sheet, due to the fact no transfer fee was paid to bring them in.
A third Chelsea academy graduate, Armando Broja is also open to a Stamford Bridge exit after taking a public swipe at old head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
‘If I need to go somewhere else to get back in my groove, then of course I would want to do that,’ Broja said.
‘As a player, there is no better feeling than being on the pitch and knowing you have a club and a team who defends you; a club who allow you to make mistakes because they know you will become something. But right now, all my focus is on doing my best for Albania at the Euros.’
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis
What's Your Reaction?
