Chelsea splashed out big to land Nottingham Forest youngster Patrick Bamford last month.
The Daily Star Sunday says even though Bamford, 18, had made only two senior appearances for Forest, Chelsea paid £1.5million up front for him.
Forest aren't in a strong financial position and doubts about the future of the club increased with the death last weekend of owner Nigel Doughty.
Championship strugglers Forest will also receive another £1m from the Stamford Bridge club, based on Bamford's success.
And the product of the Forest academy was a winner himself when Chelsea swooped.
Bamford signed a five-year contract on a cool £7k a week when he left the City Ground. That's some deal for a prospect aged 18.But the Bamford cash enabled manager Steve Cotterill to sign Wolves left-back George Elokobi on loan.