Fans fume as Saudi Arabia target Chelsea cast-offs

Fans fume as Saudi Arabia target Chelsea cast-offs, claiming their ‘love for football is dying by the day’, amid links between Newcastle owners PIF and the Blues’ majority shareholder Clearlake Capital

  • Newcastle owners PIF also have control of four leading teams in Saudi Arabia
  • PIF are also major investors in Chelsea’s majority shareholder Clearlake Capital 
  • Saudi Arabia are targeting Chelsea cast-offs, leaving rivals fans furious 

Fans have been left furious at the prospect of Saudi Arabia aiding Chelsea in their bid to adhere to Financial Fair Play rules by buying their fringe players this summer.

Having spent £600m over the past two transfer windows, Chelsea need to offload some of their players in the coming weeks to balance their books.

They look set to be given a helping hand by the Saudi Pro League, with N’Golo Kante closing in on a move to Al-Ittihad, while Al-Hilal are interested in Kalidou Koulibaly and Al-Nassr have offered Hakim Ziyech the chance to double his salary.

Meanwhile, there is strong interest in striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his torrid 2022-23 season at Stamford Bridge.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have control of four leading teams in the country’s top division, and look set to take these Chelsea cast-offs and spread them across their sides.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, headed up by governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan (above), have control of four Saudi teams and are major investors in Chelsea’s majority shareholder

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly (above) recently visited Saudi Arabia as the Blues look to offload their cast-offs to the Saudi Pro League

Hakim Ziyech could be on his way out of Chelsea as he is linked with Al-Nassr

PIF also own Newcastle, after completing a takeover of the North-East club in October 2021. Mail Sport revealed last August that PIF are major investors in Chelsea’s majority shareholder, Clearlake Capital, although the Blues denied that the group had any involvement in their £4.25bn takeover of the club last year.

But Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly visited Saudi Arabia last week for a meeting with the Al-Hilal president, and rival fans are unhappy that PIF appear to be willing to help Chelsea get huge wages off their books, hitting out at the apparent link between Newcastle and the west London club.

‘So pretty much it’s a get out of jail free card for Chelsea, ultimately they can just spend as much money as they want on the best up and coming stars and if they fail it’s doesn’t really matter, just ship them off to Saudi Arabia. My love for football is dying by the day,’ one fan declared.

‘Lawless league if this ends up happening and clearing Chelsea’s FFP issues up for the long term. Don’t blame them for using any loopholes available to them, but this is Saudi Arabia practically owning and bankrolling two PL teams. Not really sport anymore,’ another claimed.

Meanwhile, one supporter was left exasperated by the situation, voicing their concerns about the direction the Premier League is heading.

‘Chelsea making dodgy Saudi Arabian player sales just after Boehly makes a trip out there and it’s all connected to Newcastle state owned PIF. Where the f*** does it stop?’ they asked.

Another fan took a more sarcastic approach, as they joked that there was ‘nothing dodgy’ about Chelsea players being targeted by Saudi Arabia.

‘Absolutely nothing dodgy with the Saudi’s buying all of the players Chelsea want to offload. Complete coincidence,’ they added.

Chelsea look set for a major overhaul of their squad this summer under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

As well as players being linked with Saudi Arabia, Kai Havertz has reportedly agreed personal terms with Arsenal, Mateo Kovacic is edging nearer to a move to champions Manchester City, and Mason Mount is wanted by Manchester United as he enters the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. 

Getting rid of these players would free up space in Chelsea’s squad for the club to re-invest as they look to bounce back from their disastrous 2022-23 season that saw them finish 12th in the Premier League. 

Source: Read Full Article