'Might do a deal' - Intriguing Chelsea front of shirt sponsor prediction made as Blues eye fresh agreement

Chelsea are reported to have been in talks with Qatar Airways, and other potential front-of-shirt sponsors, for the last two years. Finance expert Stefan Borson, via Football Insider, has offered his opinion that the west London club’s commercial team would have kept the ongoing relationship with sponsors open, even while they had other agreements set-up.

For the second consecutive season, Chelsea have begun their campaign without a primary shirt sponsor after they failed to replace Three in 2023 and their deal with Infinite Athlete expired over the summer. Premier League regulations state that clubs can only have one shirt sponsor during a season. A single change is permitted on one match day over the campaign so clubs can promote a charity partner - as Newcastle did in their 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in April.

Special dispensation is only granted in cases as financial difficulties or if a sponsor fails to honour their contract. This means that not only do Enzo Maresca’s side still not have a front-of-shirt sponsor, but they likely won’t for the rest of the campaign.

Towards the end of September, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol reported that the SW6 club are ‘in talks’ with Qatar Airways and two other airlines about becoming the new sponsor.

Adding to the reports, Football Insider did note, however, that the Stamford Bridge chiefs will have to be forced to lower their asking price from £50m to £40m with Borson adding that Qatar Airways would be wanting a ‘very good price’ if they were to agree a deal mid-season.

Speaking to Football Insider, Borson said: “I’m sure Chelsea are talking to all these people, but they have likely been talking to them for the best part of two years, maybe even longer. The way these sorts of things work is you would continue to have conversations in the background even after signing Infinite Athlete, for example.

“They would have continued the relationship if they had one with the airlines that we are talking about. The commercial and marketing people would have continued to keep that relationship warm for future seasons. I think there is a possibility that Qatar Airways might do a deal.

“But if they were to do a deal at this stage given the imperfections of doing a deal mid-season, they would obviously want a very good price to do it, such that it made financial and economic sense.”