The Daily Mail claim to have some inside information from Chelsea’s ongoing “amicable negotiations” with the players about potential wage cuts ... or deferments. Contrary to last week’s report from the Telegraph, which said there was “no opposition” to the 10 per cent wage cut proposal, the Mail claim that some players were “caught out” by the talk of cuts and would prefer deferments instead.
The difference may be academic and inconsequential, especially as there’s no agreement at the moment (or a need for one). What does matter however is what would happen with the money saved if it does come to that.
According to the Mail’s inside source, the players want assurances that the money (equal to about £10m at 10 per cuts), would go towards “club’s efforts to support the NHS and those in need during the coronavirus pandmic” — and not towards transfer funds, as we’ve seen in a few nonsense hot takes recently.
Considering Chelsea’s exemplary response so far, that was likely to be the case anyway, but then how would we come up with headlines?
It’s unclear if any wage cuts will be agreed, or even would need to be agreed, however. Chelsea’s official statement over the weekend made it clear that while the lines of communication remain open with the players (led by captain César Azpilicueta), for now, the club’s only direction to the players to keep supporting the various club and PFA charities.