Roman Abramovich's sanction from the government may have an impact on the futures of Chelsea loanees Armando Broja and Conor Gallagher.
Abramovich has been added to the UK government's sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with all of the 55-year-old's assets including Chelsea Football Club frozen with immediate effect.
The club will be allowed to continue functioning with restrictions under a special sporting licence that expires at the end of May but its sale is currently blocked and the owner will no longer be permitted to invest.
Among many consequences for the club under the "Russia Regulations" licence, any prize money earned will be frozen and supporters will not be allowed to attend away games.
Players and staff will continue to be receive their salaries and monies owed to other clubs will be repaid.
But there are questions over next week's Champions League trip to Lille because a cap of £20,000 has been placed on travel costs. The club were meant to travel by private plane.
Chelsea was put up for sale last Wednesday as Abramovich sought to sever ties with the UK.
The threat of sanctions had been hovering for more than a fortnight with calls from parliament for the oligarch to be added to the government list.
Abramovich has long denied any association with Russian president Vladimir Putin but the government has now stated explicitly that he has been an associate "for decades".
The sanction said: “[Abramovich] is associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramovich has had a close relationship for decades. This association has included obtaining a financial benefit or other material benefit from Putin and the government.”
Now with transfer complications that will come with these fresh sanctions, the club will be thankful more than ever for their long-term investments in their loan army.
Both Broja and Gallagher have shined for Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively this term and with the Blues currently not allowed to commit any transfer business, these two young stars alongside others like Billy Gilmour could make up the bedrock of the team going forward in the future.
It was hoped by Ralph Hasenhuttl and Patrick Vieira that they could prise each of the players away from west London but these fresh developments will certainly put a halt on these ideas which will come as some form of good news for supporters in this time of uncertainty.
Vieira will be speaking to the press on Thursday afternoon and Gallagher's future will certainly be a topic of conversation, especially considering these latest developments in the club's history.
