The Premier League will observe transfer deals involving Chelsea, Aston Villa and Everton to ensure they do not breach their ‘good faith’ regulations.
The three clubs have all been involved in transfers or talks over deals between each other in the past week.
The Premier League’s 2023-24 profit and sustainability rules (PSR) deadline is June 30; all three clubs remain confident of complying with those regulations.
There is no suggestion that any of the clubs have acted outside of the rules, but Premier League chiefs are understood to be keeping a close eye on proceedings.
Any heavily inflated transfer fees that could help a club conform to the PSR framework could potentially be viewed as a breach of the Premier League’s good faith — Rule B15 — regulations.
Chelsea are closing on a £19million deal for Villa’s 18-year-old forward Omari Kellyman, while Blues left-back Ian Maatsen will head to Villa Park in a £37.5m switch.
Villa signed 21-year-old Everton academy product Lewis Dobbin on Sunday, while the Toffees took Villa’s Tim Iroegbunam in a separate deal, understood to be worth £9m.
Everton offered Newcastle striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and were keen on the Magpies’ 19-year-old winger Yankuba Minteh, but both deals are now thought to be off.
Clubs are aware of the rules concerning charging inflated fees in a bid to smooth out any PSR figures.
Both Chelsea are Villa will be unfazed by the figures involved in the separate deals for Kellyman and Maatsen, however.
Netherlands defender Maatsen helped Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League Final on a loan deal last term. Dortmund were keen to sign him permanently and were happy with a £35m fee but could not raise the funds.
Kellyman joined Villa from Derby in 2022 and is regarded as one of the club’s brightest youth prospects.
Under the PSR framework, clubs are limited to losing a maximum of £105m in a three-season stint, though certain losses can be written off.
