Featuring clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, the 20-team Premier League is the richest in the world for revenues. However, clubs spend around 70 percent of their income on lavish player wages, leaving little over for profit.
Alarmed by the state of clubs' finances across the continent, European football's governing body (UEFA) has introduced rules that will force leading teams to move towards breakeven or face exclusion from its competitions.
"It's very positive. We can only encourage the Premier League," UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said this week when asked about proposed curbs.
Arsenal and Manchester United are among top clubs who have cast aside long-standing rivalries to push for full adoption of UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) breakeven rules.
Chelsea, who in any case say they are on course to meet UEFA's rules, are expected to back a compromise on Thursday which would place a ceiling on owner investment and cap annual increases in a club's spending on player wages.
Critics of FFP argue that it will reinforce the balance of power in the Premier League and prevent clubs from emulating the rapid ascent enjoyed by Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City in recent years. City's rise has been underwritten by cash from Abu Dhabi.
