Three Premier League clubs ‘fearing points deductions’ as verdict set to come today

They face a nervous wait.

Clubs with aggregate losses in the last two accounting periods - 2021-22 and 2022-23 - were obliged under league rules to submit 2023-24 accounts to the Premier League by December 31, with any complaints to be issued to clubs by the league within 14 days.

Premier League sides are said to be in breach if they exceed the maximum permitted 'allowable limit' of losses over three seasons - £105 million.

Over the last few years, the Premier League has dished out several points deductions, including Everton and Nottingham Forest who were charged last January.

Leicester City came close to also receiving a points deduction in September but successfully argued their case that they were not under Premier League jurisdiction after being relegated to the Championship last season.

However, it is thought the relegation-battling side will not be so lucky this time after they posted cumulative losses of £124m in the three seasons ahead of relegation. 

Though it is not known for certain at this stage which three clubs could face punishment, another Premier League side that has been scrutinised closely is Chelsea, who have spent over £1billion on player transfers since the 2022 arrival of new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. 

However, sources close to the club say they are confident they will avoid punishment.

In April last year, the west London club sold a hotel on their Stamford Bridge site to one of their sister companies in a bid to avoid PSR breaches and they have also sold the women's team to its parent company, BlueCo Midco on June 28, the year-end cut-off point for their 2023-24 accounts.

Manchester United, too, are confident that they are compliant with the league's rules despite posting losses of £113.2m for the year ending June 30 2024 in September of last year.  

Meanwhile, RTE reports that Everton and Nottingham Forest, though close to the cut line are confident about their situations.