A football finance expert has sent Chelsea a warning after Everton were deducted 10 points for breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSRs). The penalty has left the Toffees with just four points, plunging them into the English top-flight relegation zone.

The Premier League made a complaint against Everton and referred the case to an independent commission earlier this year. During the proceedings, the Merseyside outfit admitted that they were in breach of the league's PSRs for the period ending Season 2021/22.

Following a five-day hearing last month, the commission decided that Everton's PSR calculation resulted in a £124.5million loss, which exceeded the threshold permitted. As a result, a 10-point deduction was imposed immediately – and the sanction sent shockwaves across the country.

After spending nearly £1billion on new players since Todd Boehly's arrival in May 2022, social media users quickly pointed a finger at Chelsea and questioned why they haven't been dealt with in a similar manner. The Blues have not been charged regarding alleged irregular payments.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, journalist Nick Harris cleared the air and revealed where Chelsea stand. He said: "Chelsea are being investigated for alleged irregular payments around transfers.

"We don’t know all the fine details around that but we know they have been investigated but have not been charged yet. If they were to be charged with those misdemeanours along those lines, they could face the same sort of process that Everton have gone through. Until we know more about that, we can’t be pretty accurate on what is going to happen there."

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Then, when asked how many Premier League clubs are at risk of breaking the rules, Harris added: "The clubs have been very aware of exactly what the rules are. Every year, multiple times in the year the clubs have to submit to the Premier League their finances.

"They have to say this is what our estimated income is, this is our expenditure - Everton knew there was a problem coming down the track several years ago. In fact, they went to the Premier League in 2021 and said we might be in a bit of trouble here, but if we do this and this, will we be okay?

"The Premier League said yes, if you do this but to cut a long story short, they didn’t do this and this - they kept spending on players and wages. This is kind of the crux of the Premier League’s argument is that you were given a chance to reign back on what you were spending, but you decided to keep spending anyway.

"Most clubs know what they have got to do, and by and large, they are doing it and that’s why this breach, I can completely accept it. It is a clear breach, they knew what they were doing and they went ahead and did it anyway."