Chelsea set to suffer under new Premier League squad size regulations

15 September 2009 12:06
The League has announced that, from the start of next season, all Premier League clubs will be limited to 25-men squads, of who, only 17 can be over the age of 21, being trained by somebody in the English and Welsh professional systems. Chelsea face a transfer ban, imposed by Fifa, in the next two windows after being found guilty of illegally enticing Gael Kakuta from Rennes. Chelsea are appealing but the new ruling will prompt a serious rethink both at Stamford Bridge and at other Premier League clubs. At present Chelsea have a first-team squad of 26 players, with another 11 players out on loan. Of those 26, seven are home-grown: Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Sam Hutchinson. The players out on loan include Englishmen Michael Mancienne, who is spending the season at Wolves, and Scott Sinclair, at Wigan. So if those two were back in the squad at Chelsea, two others would have to be sacrificed to make the quota. In the summer, many were surprised when Chelsea signed Turnbull, from Middlesbrough, and Manchester City's Sturridge. But those two promising, if inexperienced, players will help the club correct their figures. However, those who believe Arsenal will have problems come the new ruling must think again. It is a miss-conception that Arsene Wenger has bought a multi-national side. Yes, they do have few English-born players, but more than half of their squad began their schooling at the club. Of the 28 players first-team players listed on their web-site, only four were born in England or Wales: Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott. However, a further 12 players joined the club at an early age and will have completed three years service or more by the time the new ruling is imposed. That includes Cesc Fabregas, who joined aged 16 in 2003 and Gael Clichy, 18 when he arrived in 2003. Nicklas Bendtner, Philippe Senderos, Denilson and Johan Djourou also come under the tag of having been schooled in England for three years.

Source: Telegraph