So, the only thing I see feasible is having actual youth players, players that don’t toward FFP when you buy them, not counting the other way towards FFP when you sell them. If a club has the next Messi at 16, a club has him under agreement
We DO do right by the kids. What percentage of your academy’s kids ended up with top flight careers in Europe?
People have always asked (even though we have led the league in academy players minutes for the first team many times) “why would people go to Chelsea when they just churn out players?”
Answer: because we find them jobs. The players benefit on a grand scale. And in return for the massive investment, teams share in the profit that eventually comes from it.
Pretending this is about player welfare is disingenuous at best.
Chelsea's approach is just different to some more traditional big clubs. To be honest, the approach looks like "If we throw enough shit at the wall, eventually some will stick. If not, we can bin them off for a profit."
I wouldn't say it's against player welfare or anything, I think it just seems more transactional and business motivated. Whereas, the Real Madrid's, Bayern's, City etc of this world (United of old) are a lot more methodical in their transfer spending. They are usually long-term admirers of the player, the interest is both ways etc etc.
Not saying Chelsea's way is wrong either. Young players go there knowing if it doesn't work out they're still at a much bigger platform to get a loan, or included in some swap deal these days, or break into the starting 11 and play at one of the bigger clubs in the PL.
There's a mutual benefit, but you can see why some fans don't care for it. As for Chelsea looking out for player welfare, I would hesitate to say it stretches beyond what you would expect from any employer.
Maybe it's because we're all so United centric, we don't see the other perspective. But when a Mainoo, or a Rashford comes through the academy, it feels like the entire club gets a lift and a new lease of life, there's that extra buzz and satisfaction, everyone is rooting for that player and United are very proud of their academy record. I'm sure it's the same in Chelsea, but we just don't 'experience' it. However, I also don't think we would have sold Mount if roles were reversed.
As for PSR loophole, I don't know why clubs aren't just required to do a valuation process for academy players when they sign a pro contract, and update those valuations on a yearly basis. Seems like the simple fix, whether it's based on something like comparable sales, or a contract value based approach or whatever. Removing that zero carrying value removes the incentive to doing these.