Q&A: How vital is Champions League football to Chelsea?
- Published
BBC Sport football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella has been answering your questions. In this first of a two-part Q&A, he looks at the importance of Champions League football to the club's accounts and the Stamford Bridge recruitment policy.
David asked: How long can Chelsea afford not to be in the Champions League?
Nizaar: Well, the Club World Cup is a bit of a 'get out of jail free card' for Chelsea this summer. They are expected to make about £50m, although revenue distribution for the new summer competition is not yet fully established.
However, the big issue with Chelsea and not getting Champions League is how it impacts the search for a front-of-shirt sponsor. The Blues had a temporary deal with Infinite Athlete and opted against finding a partner despite negotiations with multiple potential sponsors. They are being cautious as they look for a long-term partner at a high rate, but they need Champions League football to improve their negotiating position.
In terms of PSR, Chelsea have clearly used the sales of academy players to fund their lavish spending - the sales of homegrown players count as pure profit on the club accounts - but they have fewer and fewer assets to keep using this strategy with Levi Colwill, Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah the last three such players of substantial value.
Bryn asked: With the confirmed summer signings what are the club plans for further recruitments and what players are no longer in the club plans? If the club doesn't qualify for the Champions League will we be looking at another new manager for next season?
Nizaar: Chelsea have confirmed a lot of summer signings already. Do not forget that Estevao Willian, Kendry Paez, Mike Penders and Dario Essugo are all joining the club in the summer, with Geovany Quenda following in 2026.
Chalobah is likely to be sold in the summer and Mathis Amougou will probably join Strasbourg. I suspect Omari Kellyman and Aaron Anselmino will go out on loan. You have to wonder whether Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be sold having been linked with moves away in January. There is also a "substantial" penalty clause in Jadon Sancho's loan deal from Manchester United, according to sources at both clubs. But the chance of it being activated is being played down at the moment.