Chelsea handed fresh warning by Premier League over FFP loophole

Chelsea have been handed a warning by the Premier League amid the suggestion that they are using a ‘loophole’ to comply with the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) before the end of the month.

The London club are under pressure to make money to comply with the rules for the three-year period ending in the 2023/24 season.

To ensure this, Chelsea may need to sell players before the end of the month to not be in breach of the rules, though it’s understood the club are relaxed.

Everton and Aston Villa are two other clubs who find themselves in similar situations.

However, all three clubs have been buying and selling players to each other with some suggestions that a loophole is being used.

Chelsea is set to complete the signature of Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for a deal worth around £20 million with full-back Ian Maatsen leaving Stamford Bridge to Villa for a fee of £37.5 million.

Everton also signed Aston Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam in a deal worth around £9 million while their academy product Lewis Dobbin completed his move to Villa Park.

Latest report from The Times states that the Premier League is ‘monitoring’ the transfers to ensure that a rule about clubs acting in good faith is not breached.

Clubs have been made aware that charging inflated fees as a loophole to PSRs would be in breach of rule B15 which states all clubs should act in good faith and not attempt to circumvent rules.

However, the report added that other Premier League clubs believe that no rules have been broken, but do believe that a loophole is being exploited. The sales come with the benefit of selling academy-raised players is highlighted.