Chelsea on UEFA 'watchlist' over potential FFP rules breach

Chelsea are in danger of falling foul of Financial Fair Play rules, after breaking the British record for a transfer fee, by signing Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues worked practically all day and night on deadline day, like a team of yellow tie wearing Jim White's on gallons of energy drinks, in order to sign Fernandez.

It took them 20 consecutive hours of negotiating to finally get the deal over the line late on Tuesday, netting River Plate more money than they've ever got for a player, thanks to a clause in their deal to sell to Benfica.

The Portuguese giants also made a huge profit on a player they signed just over six months ago but impressed enough at the World Cup to make Chelsea feel he was worth the £107 million fee.

Whilst that kind of spending would keep some clubs going for a couple of transfer windows, it's just a percentage of what Todd Boehly's side have spent since the American bought them.

The London club have splashed around £550 million this summer, with eight players joining in the past month to help Graham Potter's side.

And they'll need to help, because they're currently down in 10th place and 10 points off fourth spot, which would always be the minimum for the club, even without such obscene spending.

According to the Times, that's a necessity as they could be breaking UEFA's FFP rules if they don't qualify for next season's Champions League, and they're already on a 'watchlist.'

Fernandez may need to lead his new side straight into the Champions League. Image: Alamy

The Premier League giants were already one of 19 teams who only escaped any action being taken for breaking FFP due to 'Covid related allowances.'

That meant they've been closely monitored by football's European governing body this season, but it also hasn't stopped them from spending big.

They have been spreading the cost of their huge signings by giving them long contracts, with Fernandez's own deal being for eight and a half years.

Chelsea's spreading of the cost of deals, through amortisation, could lead to the end of that practice, so it's no wonder they've tried it as much as possible.

Potter's ability to get his side into next season's Champions League will be slightly hampered by the fact he can only add three of his new players to the squad for the rest of the competition.

They face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of this season's tournament, facing the German's away from home in the first leg on February 15th, before hosting them on March 7th, it's arguably their best way back in for the following campaign.