Chelsea can save millions on four signings to escape FFP punishment(Image: Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Chelsea can save millions on four underrated transfers as Todd Boehly given FFP escape route

Chelsea could be left with no choice but to explore the free agent market in the summer to cut down on expenses

05 Feb 2024, 19:00 by Jake Stokes · football.london

Chelsea could explore the free agent market at the end of the season to save money. Earlier this year, the Premier League CEO confirmed that they're 'still investigating' the Blues after Everton and Nottingham Forest were charged with breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Speaking at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Richard Masters said: "On Chelsea, as you know the new owners of Chelsea came forward to UEFA, the FA and Premier League about information of the previous ownership and we are still investigating that. We won't announce the outcome of that until we have completed the investigations."

In the meantime, the west Londoners will be determined to be smart in the transfer market. However, the CIES Football Observatory have recently named Chelsea as the club with the second-greatest negative transfer balance for non-academy players signed and sold in the last nine years.

It's not necessarily an accolade which Todd Boehly will put on his mantle piece, though. So, in order to raise some funds, football.london has taken a look at four players which the Blues could sign for free at the end of the season.

Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe faces an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain, with just five months remaining on his contract at Les Parc des Princes. Since the start of the New Year, clubs outside of France have been eligible to begin pre-contract talks with the 25-year-old striker over a free transfer in the summer.

Now that the January transfer window has slammed shut, the Parisians must do everything it takes to extend his deal. With the France international yet to pen an extension in the French capital, the Premier League has been mooted as a potential destination despite tough competition from Real Madrid.

Toni Kroos

Chelsea could do with some much-needed experience in the middle of the park, so why not go out and sign Kroos on a short-term deal. The Real Madrid midfielder wouldn't be expected to necessarily start every game, but his leadership, mentality and sheer quality would be a tremendous addition.

Gabriel Barbosa

If Chelsea are looking for a new striker but don't fancy splashing the cash on Victor Osimhen or Ivan Toney then Gabriel could be ideal. The 27-year-old striker has been thinly linked with moves to the Premier League since he first made a name for himself as a youngster at Santos.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Adarabioyo, who earned his stripes in the Manchester City academy, has been excellent for Fulham this season, playing a major role in helping Marco Silva's side climb the Premier League table. At 26, the centre-half has his best years still ahead of him and he could very help stabilise the Chelsea backline.

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