According to Press Association SportChelsea are set to back both a wage increase cap and a compromise financial fair play deal at Thursday's showdown meeting of all 20 Premier League chairmen. The Roman Abramovich-owned club had been viewed as a hardline opponent of financial fair play (FFP), but will now agree to a system that obliges clubs to break even but allows owners to cover some losses.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool will still argue that wealthy owners should not be allowed to underwrite any losses, but in order to push FFP through will have to settle for a compromise, where up to £105million over three years can be covered.
Opponents of FFP argue that the system maintains the status quo and favours the biggest clubs with large stadia and high commercial income.
Four clubs - Manchester City, Fulham, West Brom and Aston Villa - are still expected to vote against it.
The wage increase cap may also be watered down with the cap only affecting those clubs whose total bill is higher than £52m so that promoted sides are not prevented from improving their squads.
The Blues backing of a compromise, however, should enable the necessary 14 out of the 20 votes to be reached.
