Chelsea in more hot water?! Blues fired warning by UEFA over 'inflated' swap transfer fees following £27m fine for financial breach

According to The Times, UEFA are attempting to crack down on 'inflated' swap deals, which often involve home-grown players and are with the intention of avoiding a breach of PSR rules. As both Chelsea and Villa recently received fines from UEFA, £27 million ($36m) and £9.5m ($13m) respectively, the two Premier League clubs are being watched particularly closely. They are under settlement agreements and could face larger fines and a potential ban from European competition if they breach further financial rules.

What makes the situation around these two clubs particularly intriguing is that they did engage in a controversial swap deal last summer. Omari Kellyman moved from Villa to Chelsea for £19m ($25.5m), while Ian Maatsen moved the other way for £37.5m ($50m).

Both figures raised eyebrows, particularly when you consider that Villa could simply have paid £18.5m for Maatsen and sent Kellyman across as part of the deal. The fact that both sides received payments for a home-grown player indicated a desire for PSR gains. It seems UEFA have picked up on this, as The Times' report states that European football's governing boy has confirmed they "knocked back the value of at least one deal involving both Chelsea and Villa".

UEFA's financial rules are stricter than those of the Premier League in terms of permitted losses, which would explain why the two English heavyweights have been fined by the governing body but not domestically. The waters of football finance are becoming increasingly murky as Chelsea have reportedly sold two hotels in order to comply with PSR rules, while Villa agreed a deal to sell their women's team.

Both clubs will need to be more careful as they are unlikely to be let off with any more warnings. Club World Cup winners Chelsea in particular have just enjoyed a fantastic first season under Enzo Maresca on the pitch, so must keep their act together if they are to avoid ruining their quick progress with more serious punishment.