Guardiola and Klopp baffled by Chelsea's spending

LONDON:: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp say they are bewildered by Chelsea's huge spending spree during the January transfer window.

Chelsea signed eight new players last month, taking their total outlay since the end of last season to more than £500 million (US$605 million).

The Blues paid a British record of nearly £107 million to land Argentine World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on Tuesday's transfer deadline day.

In contrast, City spent just £8 million on Argentine midfielder Maximo Perrone during the January window, while Liverpool brought in Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of 40-50 million euros.

Chelsea's spending since the Todd Boehly consortium's takeover at Stamford Bridge last year has prompted questions over how the club will meet Financial Fair Play requirements.

And Guardiola suggested City, given their past issues with FFP, would have faced considerable criticism and scrutiny had they matched Chelsea's level of investment in new signings.

"I know what would happen. It's none of my business but it's a surprise because it's not a 'state' club," Guardiola, whose club is owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, said on Friday.

"What I'm concerned about is we won 11 trophies in the last five years being the fifth or sixth team in net spend in the Premier League. That is what really counts to us.

"Not just in the Premier League, but Europe, you have to spend. Now the market is 'wow'.

"What Chelsea do is not my business, I never involve opinions in other clubs because there are regulations, rules, that we have to do.

"But we were accused. I don't forget, eight or nine teams in the Premier League sent a letter to the Premier League for us to be banned.