The situation at Chelsea remains bleak after the Premier League giants have come under fire from all quarters in the wake of sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government.

Now, as reported by The Express, the Blues will be unable to repeat a similar move that saw them secure Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovačić from Real Madrid in 2019 amid a transfer ban that gripped the club that season.

Kovačić. arrived at the club in a £40million move from Madrid under special circumstances surrounding the end date of his loan from the Spanish giants which allowed Chelsea to agree to a full deal, but that same avenue of attack will not be available in the reverse as the club is unable to secure transfer fees for a swath of players that are currently out on loan away from Stamford Bridge.

As such, the likes of Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, and twenty-one other players are now forced to return to the club in the summer which could massively inflate the squad under tactician Thomas Tuchel or the 2022-23 season.

Though Gallagher’s case does not change given his preference to remain at Chelsea and fight for a place in the heart of midfield, Broja’s future prospects could be tricky as the Albanian international was previously linked with a potential move away in the summer as he appeared keen to review his options moving forward after a very successful loan stint at Southampton.

Chelsea unable to sell tickets for FA Cup away day against Middlesbrough

Chelsea stripped of transfer revenue stream under special license – loaned players to return

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is seen during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St. James Park on October 30, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

To make matters worse for Chelsea, it was recently announced earlier today that the Blues will be unable to sell tickets for their FA Cup away day at Middlesbrough amid the current situation they find themselves in.

As a result, the capital outfit made the ‘bizarre’ request to have the match played behind closed doors despite the Riverside Stadium being the venue for the quarter-final clash with Chris Wilder’s Championship side.

In response, Boro released a statement of their own labeling the request one that was ‘without any merit whatsoever.’

And that response is certainly justified as well, as stripping the Championship club without revenue from a fixture that they are hosting would have nothing at all to do with the current situation that is unfolding in west London, with Chelsea now being unable to fly to the match and will have to source an alternative means of travel.