Chelsea are in talks with their players and Frank Lampard over taking wage cuts as they look to cut costs in response to the coronavirus crisis.
The players hope to accept a reduction lower than the 30% suggested by the Premier League and are understood to have told Chelsea’s board that they are happy to take a cut of around 10% to help save the club money while the season is suspended. A deal in that region could save Chelsea between £8m and £10m in wages.
Chelsea are also conducting separate talks with their coaching staff and it is understood that Lampard, who signed a three-year deal worth £4m a year last summer, is ready to reduce his pay. The manager’s backroom staff will also be asked to play their part.
This month Premier League clubs attempted to reach an agreement with their players over collective 30% wage drops, either through cuts, deferrals or a combination of both, only for the plans to be rejected. With negotiations at a standstill clubs were left to conduct individual talks with their squads. Southampton and West Ham have since become the first top-flight sides to reach agreements with their players over wage deferrals.
The situation has continued to develop this week, with Arsenal close to agreeing 12.5% cuts with their players. It is understoodChelsea’s captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has been representing the players, who could yet look to defer a portion of their pay. Talks with Marina Granovskaia, the club’s director, have gathered pace in recent days and are thought to have gone amicably.
If the players agree wage reductions it will be a further demonstration of Chelsea’s willingness to play their part during the coronavirus crisis. They have made the Millennium Hotel on their Stamford Bridge site available to NHS staff and will also provide 78,000 meals to the NHS and charities to support the homeless and vulnerable.
Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, has taken an active role in the club’s community work. They have also teamed up with the domestic abuse charity Refuge to help provide support for people forced to self-isolate in vulnerable situations and have continued to pay their full-time and casual staff in full since the postponement of the season.
Meanwhile, Tino Anjorin is set to become the latest Chelsea youngster to commit his future to the club. The 18-year-old striker, who made his senior debut as a substitute during last month’s victory over Everton, is close to agreeing a new five-year deal.
