Chelsea willing to break wage structure to sign absolute superstar this summer

Chelsea are willing to break their wage structure to sign an absolute superstar player in the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The Blues have already been linked to a number of top stars with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams thought to be the club’s ‘dream’ target.

Williams, one of Europe’s hottest prospects, is believed to have a €58 million (£49m) release clause in his current deal with the La Liga side.

His representatives are reported to be demanding a deal worth around £400,000-a-week, which would easily make him Chelsea’s highest earner.

Reece James is Chelsea’s current highest earner (£250,000-a-week) ahead of Raheem Sterling (£215,000-a-week), Wesley Fofana (£200,000-a-week) and Christopher Nkunku (£195,000-a-week) according to Capology.

Chelsea’s transfer approach under the ownership of BlueCo has been to recruit young players on lower wages over long-term contracts, with agreements to give them significant pay rises if certain conditions are met.

But the Daily Mail are now reporting that Chelsea would be willing to break their existing wage structure to recruit a ‘big name’ this summer, assuming that Enzo Maresca’s team qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League.

In order to secure qualification for the Champions League next term, Chelsea must finish in the top five of the Premier League this season.

The west Londoners currently sit fifth in the top-flight with just three games left against Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

It is normally the case that only the Premier League top four qualify for the Champions League but England has been granted an extra spot by UEFA.

While Williams is believed to be Chelsea’s No.1 target, the club have also been linked with a number of other players ahead of the summer window.

Chelsea, along with a number of teams, are interested in a deal to sign AFC Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen at the end of the season.

The Blues are also ready to revive their interest in Alejandro Garnacho this summer after Ruben Amorim’s United set their asking price for the winger.

It was reported at the end of last month that Chelsea have opened talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign their winger Jamie Gittens too.

Meanwhile, Tim Howard has tipped Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap to compete a move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

‘Honestly, I think Chelsea are desperate for a striker,’ Howard told NBC Sports.

‘I like the Chelsea profile, I like the young team. He (Delap) goes into a young team and there’s goals there.’

Chelsea ‘ideally’ want to sign players who’d slot straight into their existing wage structure but that could change if ‘they encountered an opportunity too good to turn down’.