Already a part of Ā£196 million Chelsea wagers as the FFP problem is revealed
Although Chelsea appears to be nearing the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager, the club has previously conducted business with Leicester City.
Enzo Maresca is the most likely candidate to take over from Mauricio Pochettino. (Image: Getty)
Transfer agreements between Chelsea and Leicester City have grown more frequent over the past few years. In the most recent, Cesare Casadei returned to Chelsea in January after spending the first half of the season on loan at King Power Stadium.
However, as the Blues wrap up their managerial search, it appears that the moves will continue to be made the other way around. With Enzo Maresca as the front-runner to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, the Italian appears certain to be the latest member of the Leicester team to sign a contract.
Chelsea will have to reimburse Leicester with an amount estimated to be around Ā£9 million if the deal goes through. Maresca’s contract had an increased buyout clause after the Foxes were promoted back to the Premier League.
Under the direction of Roman Abramovic and Todd Boehly, Chelsea has not hesitated to spend big money. Leicester has reaped significant benefits from that.
Chelsea has signed four Leicester players since the summer of 2016, each time paying a higher fee than the previous. Some of these deals have been more successful than others.
The first was N’Golo Kante, who signed for a whopping Ā£32 million only a few months after winning the Premier League title with Leicester. Danny Drinkwater, his midfield partner, was acquired by Chelsea for Ā£35 million a year later.
Complete-back Three years later, in the summer of 2020, Ben Chilwell arrived after Chelsea paid Ā£50 million for the Leicester academy graduate. Wesley Fofana, a defender, also joined him at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 after the Blues paid an additional Ā£70 million.
When one accounts for the Ā£9 million Chelsea is anticipated to pay Leicester for Maresca, the total spent over the previous eight years equals Ā£196 million. It remains to be seen whether the new manager is a success, much like the players who have signed from Leicester over the years.
Concerns have been raised about the number in relation to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSRs) this season. The Blues reported a Ā£90.1 million deficit for the 2022ā2023 season back in March, after losing more than Ā£100 million the previous two years.
It might imply that Chelsea must make a profit on a few players before considering returning to the transfer market during the summer transfer window. Paying Ā£9 million in compensation to a manager who hasn’t proven himself in the Premier League is therefore a risky move.
Even though the cost might not seem like much, when combined with the transfer fees that have already been given to one club over the previous eight years, it becomes clear how much money the club has actually spent. Chelsea is hoping that, similar to the first Leicester deal for Kante, the risk taken on Maresca pays off and Ā£9 million appears to be a good deal.
