Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has highlighted that Premier League clubs are increasingly having to sell academy players in order to comply with the league’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
In recent years, Chelsea has sold numerous academy graduates, with midfielder Conor Gallagher now being linked to a potential move to Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher, who has been with Chelsea since he was eight, has a contract that runs until 2025, after which he could leave for free.
Selling academy-developed players is financially advantageous for clubs, as these sales can be recorded as pure profit on their financial statements.
Consequently, several Premier League teams are turning to homegrown talent as a means to generate revenue and mitigate losses.
“But this is not Chelsea’s problem, this is a (Premier League) rules problem,” Maresca said ahead of their pre-season friendly with Real Madrid in North Carolina.
“These are the rules. For all the clubs at this moment it is almost compulsory they are compelled to sell players from the academy because of the rules. It’s not only us, it’s all the clubs.”
Chelsea will host Manchester City in their Premier League opener on August 18.