Premier League clubs’ plans for a summer clear-out to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) could be thrown into disarray.
International managers blocking player access during the European Championship could cause chaos in the upcoming transfer window, per the Daily Mail.
Chelsea, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City face a tight deadline to offload players before June 30 to avoid PSR breaches, which could lead to docked points next season.
Conor Gallagher is a prime example. The England midfielder enters the final year of his contract this summer, making him a potential sale to free up funds for Chelsea.
The club want to sell the 24-year-old because he is an academy product and represents the pure profit needed to balance the books.
However, Gallagher’s participation at Euro 2024 throws a spanner into the works.
According to Football Association sources, player agents are unlikely to be granted access to discuss transfers during the tournament.
This is particularly concerning for Chelsea, as England’s potential last-16 match falls on June 29 or 30, creating a second transfer deadline for clubs grappling with PSR problems.
With Gallagher’s future and potentially other crucial transfers on hold, Chelsea’s summer business could be seriously derailed by international commitments.
The top brass need to find a way to negotiate potential transfers while respecting the international competition and avoiding disruption to national teams’ focus.
Chelsea’s pre-season preparations could also be disrupted by the Olympic Games later this year.
The Olympics is an under-23 tournament, and many players from Chelsea’s young squad could be called up to represent their nation.
Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Lesley Ugochukwu and Wesley Fofana may be selected by France.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez could join Ukraine and Argentina in their quest for gold.
