‘They’ve scrambled around’ – The Premier League clubs that stand on precipice of PSR rules breach
Connor Andrews
4 – 5 minutes
talkSPORT’s resident football finance expert has identified which teams are heading for squeaky bum time ahead of the PSR deadline.
Clubs will submit their accounts to the Premier League on June 30 to make sure they comply with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) and avoid a potential points penalty.
The deadline that some clubs in the Premier League won’t enjoy is fast approaching
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The deadline that some clubs in the Premier League won’t enjoy is fast approachingCredit: Getty
PSR rules have caused headaches for multiple chairman like Chelsea’s Todd Boehly
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PSR rules have caused headaches for multiple chairman like Chelsea’s Todd BoehlyCredit: Getty
Everton and Nottingham Forest have previously fallen foul to that fate in the past, but this time it looks like these two clubs are in the clear.
However, four teams have given us clues that they could struggle, but finance expert Stefan Borson thinks we may only need to worry about two of them.
“The starting point is who was close last year and we know those clubs because we saw what they did at the end of the PSR window on June 30,” he explained.
“Aston Villa scrambled around, Chelsea did a few deals but it was a different type of scrambling. Newcastle scrambled around, they’ve talked about it extensively since.
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“Those are the main clubs then the other club that’s highlighted that they might have an issue is Wolverhampton Wanderers.”
Let’s get to the good news first shall we?
Borgson explained that Chelsea: “Sold their women’s team for £200million and that solved all of the PSR problems for them,” while Wolves similarly had a slice of luck.
He continued: “Wolves moved their accounting year end from May 31 which would’ve meant that any sales that occur in June were in the 2025/26 year, they moved that year end to June 30.
“That means that the Matheus Cunha transaction [to Manchester United] goes into the PSR test for the current season which means that they probably had an issue because why else would you move your accounting year end?
“But if you are selling Cunha for £62.5m – plus we found out in the United accounts, another £8m in agent fees and intermediary fees – but if they’ve sold that player we know that they’re okay.”
Cunha may have solved many of Wolves problems given their adjustments around his sale
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Cunha may have solved many of Wolves problems given their adjustments around his saleCredit: Getty
And now for the bad news – with Newcastle’s scramble already covered.
Borson went on: “Really the one to focus on is Aston Villa out of that group, because they had a decent season but invested very heavily, we know that the starting point and their running costs were very. very high relative to their revenue.
“They made about £70m from the Champions League which was a great boost to their revenue.
“They would have also done very considerable amounts on matchday because we know their ticket prices got up to £100 for some of those Champions League games and six big home games on top of that by the time you get to a quarter final.”
Amid that income, Villa also brought in Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia permanently, and high earners Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan.
Borson explained that while making the Champions League quarter-finals was lucrative, failing to qualify and going so big in the transfer market could be costly.
Villa’s spending has been big without considering some costly loans and bonuses
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Villa’s spending has been big without considering some costly loans and bonuses
Ally McCoist and Stefan Borson accuse Chelsea of ‘outsmarting PSR’ by selling women’s team to themselves
“They’ll have made very very good money, but they invested heavily and will have had significant bonuses payable in those wage packets for their players,” he said.
“On top of that we know what they did in January in terms of buying a couple of players and loaning a couple of players.”
Leeds United’s retained list for the 2024/25 season has been confirmed, and seven players are set to leave the club. Here’s a breakdown of the departing players and the retained list:
Players Leaving:
– Senior Players:
– Adam Forshaw: The midfielder’s contract has expired, and he’s set to depart the club. Forshaw’s experience and expertise will be missed in the team.
– Joel Robles: The goalkeeper’s contract has also expired, and he’ll be leaving Leeds United. Robles has been invited to join the team for pre-season training.
– Youth Players:
– Stuart McKinstry: The young player’s contract hasn’t been renewed, and he’ll be released.
– Will Brook: Another youth player who’s set to leave the club due to contract expiration.
– Scott: A young left-back whose contract hasn’t been renewed.
– Other Departures:
– Charlie Allen: The player’s contract has expired, and he’ll be leaving Leeds United.
– Lewis Bate: Another player who’s set to depart due to contract expiration.
– Cuba: A player whose contract hasn’t been renewed.
Retained List:
– Players with Contract Extensions:
– Sam Byram: The player has triggered a one-year extension clause in his contract, ensuring he’ll stay with Leeds United.
– Players with Ongoing Contracts:
– Other players who are expected to stay with the team, although not officially confirmed, might include Junior Firpo, who’s in discussions for a potential contract extension.
Fans’ reactions to the departures have been mixed, with some understanding the need for change and others expressing disappointment. The decision to let experienced players like Adam Forshaw and Joel Robles go might be seen as a strategic move to bring in fresh talent and rejuvenate the team ¹ ².
Leeds United’s squad dynamics are expected to undergo significant changes this summer, with new signings and departures likely to shape the team’s performance in the upcoming season. The club’s management will need to balance the books while strengthening the squad to achieve their goals ³.
