Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has explained the amount of money they paid agents in the last year.

Figures released by the Premier League revealed the Blues paid £9,562,223 to players' agents for the period October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

Chelsea rank second in the list behind Manchester City, who forked out over £12million to take the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott to Eastlands.

"I think they are something that are in the game and have been for a long while and we have to deal with it," Wilkins said.

"The players obviously feel they are well worth having otherwise they wouldn't have them. Therefore it's something that's there and it's something that we have to get on with.

"I didn't have an agent but they are in our game and we will just cope with that situation.

"I didn't have a clue about the figures until I read them in the paper this morning. It's just something that happens in football and in all sports.

"When I was a manager I dealt with them with difficulty but it's just sitting down and having a conversation. If a player wants to sign for you then he will sign."