CHELSEA want to delay contract talks with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill – after being unable to offer a huge pay rise.
The West Londoners need to grow their revenue in order to increase wages because of Uefa’s financial controls.
Caicedo, 24, Fernandez and Colwill are keen to hold talks over improved deals at Stamford Bridge.
But BBC Sport report that Behdad Eghbali and other influential figures at Chelsea are aiming to delay discussions until the summer.
A whopping 72.7 per cent of the Blues’ income is being spent on salaries, which is the highest ratio among the Premier League’s traditional big six.
Battling to keep within Uefa’s wage limit has resulted in Chelsea facing a contract stand-off with key trio Caicedo, Fernandez, 25, and Colwill.
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Reece James is thought to be the only member of boss Liam Rosenior’s squad pocketing more than £200,000-per-week because of desperately trying to cut the wage bill.
Figures for the 2024-25 season put Chelsea’s annual wage bill at £338million – a £66m reduction.
Salary concerns also led to the Blues ruling themselves out of beating Manchester City to the £20m signing of Marc Guehi.
The centre-back has bagged a £300,000-per-week deal at the Etihad Stadium.
Guehi was also viewed internally as being similar to Colwill, who underwent anterior cruciate ligament surgery last August.
Liverpool will be keeping tabs on the Chelsea academy graduate’s situation.
The reigning Premier League champions previously tried to land Colwill, 22, before being warned he was not for sale.
But Liverpool, who also missed out on Guehi, are threatening to reignite their pursuit after Virgil van Dijk has struggled to rediscover his best form and Ibrahima Konate has ticked into the final months of his deal.
Anfield chief Arne Slot will closely monitor Chelsea’s stance on handing Colwill fresh terms.
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