Chelsea chief Todd Boehly makes trip to Saudi Arabia as he prepares for summer exits

12/03/2024 18:17

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly recently made a trip to Saudi Arabia with summer transfers on the agenda.

Boehly met with Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo on a recent visit to the Gulf State, as well as the country’s sports minister.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the meeting was held in the capital Riyadh with transfers on the agenda as Chelsea look to raise funds this summer.

Chelsea are also believed to be in discussions with airline Riyadh Air over becoming the club’s new front-of-shirt sponsors next season.

Current sponsors Infinite Athlete only signed a one-year deal late into the season after the Blues started the campaign without a shirt sponsor.

After Chelsea announced their financial results for the year, which made for worrying reading, it has been alleged that the club will need to raise funds this summer in the transfer market, though the Blues have denied this.

Saudi Arabia has provided a bountiful dumping ground for Chelsea previously for Boehly, who managed to offload Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy last summer to Al Hilal.

Hakim Ziyech was also on the verge of joining Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr, before the move fell through, while N’Golo Kante also travelled to the Middle East, though this was after his contract expired.

Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at AS Roma, could be an item for discussion after Boehly tried to sell the striker last summer only for the Belgian to refuse.

However, Lukaku’s stance on a Saudi move has appeared to soften in recent months, saying: "In the next two years I see this league becoming one of the best in the world, if not the best.

“The clubs make a lot of efforts to bring the 'big' players here. As a result, the teams and the footballing qualities are improving significantly."

Emenalo is said to be a huge fan of Lukaku and even facilitated his arrival at Chelsea as a teenager when he was technical director for nine years.

Now in his new role as director of football for the Saudi Pro League, Emenalo is responsible for plotting a forward-thinking strategy to take the division to new heights and raise its profile.

Signing superstars has been part of the strategy and his contacts at Chelsea could benefit all parties, particularly Boehly, who wants to get rid of high-earner Kepa Arrizabalaga as well as Lukaku this summer.

Marc Cucurella, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are all expected to be sold this summer while Conor Gallagher’s future is also up in the air, though moves to Saudi Arabia for the homegrown trio look unlikely.

Raheem Sterling is also expected to stay at Stamford Bridge after turning down a Saudi transfer last summer.