TODD BOEHLY faces huge dressing room unrest over plans to slash his Chelsea’s stars wages — because it does not apply to all the players.
Pay will be cut by 30 per cent to make up for missing out on next term’s money-spinning Champions League.
Enzo Fernandez is one of many big-money signings at risk of a pay cutCredit: Getty
Todd Boehly has some major calls to make in the summerCredit: Alamy
But the penalty clause only applies to new signings and existing players like Reece James who have recently agreed contract extensions.
Defender James, 23, signed a six-year deal in September worth a whopping £200,000 a week.
That will be reduced by £60,000 a week from the start of next season.
Fellow full-back Ben Chilwell, 26, put pen to paper on a new four-year contract only last week and he too will have to give up almost a third of his salary to pay for the team’s failure in Europe.
Even midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 22, who cost a British-record £106million in January, must sacrifice a large chunk of pay from the remainder of his massive eight-and-a-half-year deal.
In contrast, players still on contracts from the old Roman Abramovich era will not be asked to make the sacrifice.
Stars such as Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech will not lose money.
A Blues source said: “You can imagine how that’s going down.
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“Some of those players are going to take big hits in the pocket while the bloke playing alongside him isn’t.
“It’s hardly the best recipe for maintaining a dressing room that is already feeling the strain of results and so many managerial changes.
“Look at some of the faces on those Chelsea players during the game on Tuesday. They looked angry. You can see why.”
Reece James and Ben Chilwell have both signed new contracts this seasonCredit: Getty
Kai Havertz is one of the club’s top earners but his wages are safeCredit: Getty
