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Topics: Chelsea, Football, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Chelsea are set to finally have a shirt sponsor weeks into the Premier League season, it has been reported.
The men's side have gone sponsorless throughout the opening games of the campaign, with Infinite Athlete deciding not to extend their agreement from last season.
It is a different story for the women's side, with the reigning Women's Super League champions having Three as their official telecommunications partner and front-of-shirt sponsor.
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According to The Athletic, the men's side have been entering into short-term agreements with sponsors over fears that they would miss out on revenue from a longer-term agreement if they qualified for the Champions League during that time.
But the situation appears to have now changed, with the Blues close to reaching a major new agreement.
According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, the club are in talks with three major brands - including Qatar Airways - over a new sponsorship deal.
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He explained: "Chelsea are in talks with Qatar Airways about a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal.
"They're also in talks with two other airlines as well. But it would be significant if they did a deal with Qatar Airways.
"They have, in the past, sponsored Barcelona and PSG."
Solhekol continued: "A lack of Champions League football means that it has been more difficult for Chelsea to find the right deal.
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"One source has told us that Chelsea are close to doing a deal with Qatar Airways.
"But my understanding, at the moment, is that deal is not close. But they are in talks with Qatar Airways."
As well as their past partnerships with Barcelona and PSG, Qatar Airways is also the Official Airline Partner of the Champions League.
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The brand features heavily on marketing products by UEFA, with a special advert produced to mark their agreement earlier this year.
Should an agreement be reached between the two parties, it would not be the first time Chelsea have been sponsored by an airline.
They wore the Emirates logo - with the words 'Fly Emirates' - between 2001 and 2005, before switching to Samsung after the club won its first Premier League title under the management of Jose Mourinho.