Top 10 football clubs with highest wage bills

#8 Chelsea: €256m (£226.19m)

Kante is Chelsea's best player and naturally tops their wage bill as they begin the post-Hazard era

Highest earner: N’Golo Kante, £300kpw

The third successive EPL side in this list, Europa League champions Chelsea are currently observing a two-window transfer ban after breaching FIFA rules on signing foreign U18 players but persist in offering competitive wages of their players.

Recent transfer business has been questionable, although they continue earning value for money from player sales and are increasingly looking toward the future with a young core emerging. Although their flourishing youth system continues to sparkle, they continue to earn good fees for youngsters who venture elsewhere on permanent deals.

#7 Juventus: €264m (£233.25m)

Ronaldo continues to lead by example, this time with Serie A champions Juventus

Highest earner: Cristiano Ronaldo, £510kpw

Serie A champions Juventus feature high on this list and given their lofty European ambitions, it's no real surprise. Despite reaching the 2014/15 and 16/17 finals, failure to win the Champions League has increased their onus on spending big in the market to improve their chances - case in point being Ronaldo's arrival last summer.

They continue to earn great value for money with big-money departures and have sufficient funds to spend when required, although they are also keen on completing shrewd business-like midfield trio Blaise Matuidi, Emre Can and Aaron Ramsey in recent seasons.