Little-known rule could mean Chelsea are worse off winning Carabao Cup final
Chelsea have the chance to end their two-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup - but it could give the Blues more problems down the line.
After Sunday's embarrassing 4-2 loss at home to Wolves, which followed last Wednesday's 4-1 hammering at Liverpool, the pressure has ramped up on struggling boss Mauricio Pochettino. It's also seen co-controlling owner Todd Boehly come under severe scrutiny, with the American yet to see a return on his £1billion investment on transfers. Fans still regularly chant the name of former owner Roman Abramovich.
As many saw coming, though, Chelsea - who last won a trophy in February 2022 - are at serious risk of flouting various financial rules and regulations, including UEFA's. By beating Premier League leaders Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, February 25, Chelsea would automatically earn themselves a place in Europe's third-rate competition, the Conference League.
Under new rules which UEFA introduced this season, however, clubs competing in any competition governed by the organisation are restricted to spending a maximum 80 per cent of their revenue on transfers and wages. As the Blues' annual income is expected to fall below £450million both this season and next - and the Conference League being worth no more than £15m even if Chelsea win every game and lift the trophy - they'd have just £10m to spend on new signings due to their current £360m wage bill.
UEFA's hotly-debated Financial Fair Play regulations will be done over a two-year calculation next season and only allow losses of £34m across 2023 and 2024. Boehly's Blues often amortise their transfer fees and contracts, meaning they've chosen to spread huge costs over periods of up to eight years.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Your turn! Who'll win the Carabao Cup final - Chelsea or Liverpool? Give us prediction in the comments section.
Todd Boehly has spent big at Chelsea - but it's not helping (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)In order to avoid UEFA sanctions and potential Premier League ones, big sales are required. It's difficult to see where those departures will come from, though, as Boehly and club chiefs have spent their 18-month tenure revamping the squad and cast off almost every unwanted player. The standout star who Chelsea could sell is striker Romelu Lukaku, who the Blues paid a club-record £97.5m for in the summer of 2021 and is currently on loan at Roma.
Chelsea would have to sell Lukaku, 30, for at least £39m in order to make a profit, as they still owe selling club Inter Milan serious cash. So, as Pochettino eyes his long-awaited first trophy in English football, it could end up causing Chelsea more financial problems than staying out of Europe altogether - at least while his team isn't Europa or Champions League quality.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
