Liverpool can deal Chelsea blow after $1bn agreement and Roman Abramovich final act

could deal a potential blow in their hopes of securing a significant sum in prize money at this summer's .

Chelsea's immediate focus is on their final three Premier League games and securing a top-five finish, as well as the UEFA Europa Conference League, but there’s no denying the challenge that awaits this summer. ’s side are among the favourites to qualify for next season’s , but the financial rewards on offer at FIFA’s upcoming tournament represent another major opportunity for the London club.

Chelsea qualified for the expanded edition of the competition thanks to their 2021 Champions League final victory over . Kai Havertz scored the only goal of that game, with in charge at the time and still at the helm as owner.

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The Club World Cup will take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13 and will feature 32 teams, which is an increase from the previous format, which included only seven clubs and was held annually rather than every four years as it will be now. It has been widely reported that up to £97 million is on offer for the tournament winners, and Chelsea’s status as a European club should see them among the highest earners if they perform well.

The substantial prize fund follows Dazn’s agreement to pay $1 billion (£787 million) for the broadcast rights back in February. Chelsea will receive around £29.6 million just for qualifying but will be determined to maximise their earnings and make a statement on the global stage.

However, that won’t be an easy task, with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain among the other top sides to have qualified. Madrid, in particular, will be eager to make amends for a disappointing season in which they have fallen behind in the LaLiga title race, were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals and lost the Copa del Rey final to fierce rivals Barcelona.

While they are expected to be operating under a new manager, clubs will also be permitted to register new players during two windows from June 1 to 10, and again from June 27 to July 3. Real Madrid are reportedly keen to bring in Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold early to allow him to participate.

The defender confirmed earlier this week that he will end his 20-year association with the Merseyside club when his contract expires at the end of the campaign. Real Madrid have long been named as the expected destination, and a fresh report from journalist Ben Jacobs suggests they are willing to pay over £500,000 for his early release, though Liverpool are expected to hold out for a higher fee.

Right-back has been something of a problem position for Madrid this season following Dani Carvajal’s ACL injury. The likes of Lucas Vazquez have filled in during his absence, but Alexander-Arnold’s early arrival would undoubtedly give them a much-needed boost, potentially denting Chelsea’s hopes of going all the way in the competition.