'It's a disgrace': Enzo Maresca blames Premier League rules for Chelsea's transfer policy as Conor Gallagher nears exit

Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea have no intention of selling academy players for a profit, but Premier League rules mean the Blues must do so.

He Chelsea The manager is preparing to begin his first season at Stamford Bridge, where he will host the reigning league champions. Manchester City next Sunday.

But the buzz surrounding next season has shifted away from football itself and towards the sale of one of their homegrown talents.

Conor Gallagher has reached a five-year agreement with Atlético de Madrid, which has Negotiated a £33m deal – and some Chelsea fans have been outraged by the growing trend of owners Todd Boehly and co-sell academy graduates.

There are suspicions among fans that the Blues will continue to sell their homegrown players because their fees count as pure profit under the Profit and Sustainability Rules, but Maresca insists that is not the club's intention.

Asked if he was sure Chelsea were still trying to promote academy players and not just sell them on for a profit, the former Leicester manager said: “Absolutely.”

“I also think the club's intention is not to sell academy players, but in the end the rules dictate that it has to be done. It's not just us, it's all the Premier League clubs.”

“It's a shame because in Italy we have Totti at Roma, 20 years at the same club.

“In football we love to have one club, the fans want to see that. But with the current rules it is different to what it was before.”

Asked about the fact that Chelsea's squad costs £1bn, Maresca said his club was not alone in doing so.

“Yes, but it's not just Chelsea who spend money on players,” he said. “It's all the big clubs who try to buy players.”

“Some clubs spend more, others less. My personal opinion is that it's a shame because we like to see one player, but the rules are different.”

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Asked if he thinks the Premier League needs to change its rules, he said: “If they want to protect academy players then probably yes.”

Under Boehly's Clearlake Capital consortium, Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are among the former Chelsea youth players who have been sold.

This summer, Ian Maatsen was sold to Aston Villa for £37.5m and Lewis Hall left for Newcastle for £28m.

Now, Gallagher looks set to leave and the Blues are reportedly already… Looking for a replacement.