Could the Saudi Pro League’s spending spree be the solution to Chelsea’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns? The Telegraph reports that officials from Saudi’s Public Investment Fund have offered Chelsea £100 million for five of their players, four of which are deemed surplus to requirements. While Mauricio Pochettino would have preferred to retain N’Golo Kante, the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang would have played bit-part roles at most under the club’s new manager.
Negotiations for the other four players targeted by various Saudi clubs are at different stages, but it is understood that the Blues are confident of recouping the majority of the money they invested in talent that has failed to thrive in west London. Kante, Chelsea’s top earner on £300,000-a-week, has turned down the offer of a new deal to extend his Chelsea career and is instead on the verge of agreeing a deal with Al Ittihad worth an astonishing £86 million per season.
Wolves have also benefited from Saudi Arabia’s ambitious recruitment drive with Ruben Neves having agreed a £47m transfer to Al Hilal following the collapse of his proposed move to Barcelona. Like Chelsea, Wolves were at risk of contravening the Premier League and UEFA’s rules on spending, and the timing of the Pro League’s trolley dash could not have come at a better time for those clubs at risk of flouting regulations.
However, rival clubs, both at home and abroad, are unhappy at the prospect of Chelsea effectively playing what has been described as “a get out of FFP jail free card.” “PIF has so many investments around the world that it should be compelled to prove there are no conflicts of interest as it spends big with its bottomless pit of cash on ageing players,” said one European club, on condition of anonymity. “Watch clubs use Saudi this summer across Europe as a get out of FFP jail free card. It becomes even murkier should PIF have investment interest in both the selling and buying club.”
Heading 1: Chelsea’s FFP Concerns
Chelsea’s FFP concerns have been well documented in recent months, with the club facing a potential transfer ban if they fail to comply with UEFA’s regulations. The Saudi Pro League’s spending spree could provide the club with a quick fix to their problems both on and off the pitch. The Telegraph reports that officials from Saudi’s Public Investment Fund have offered Chelsea £100 million for five of their players, four of which are deemed surplus to requirements.
Heading 2: Wolves’ Transfer Woes
Wolves have also been at risk of contravening the Premier League and UEFA’s rules on spending, and the timing of the Pro League’s trolley dash could not have come at a better time for those clubs at risk of flouting regulations. Ruben Neves had agreed to transfer to Al Hilal following the collapse of his proposed move to Barcelona.
Heading 3: Rival Clubs Unhappy
However, rival clubs, both at home and abroad, are unhappy at the prospect of Chelsea effectively playing what has been described as “a get out of FFP jail free card.” “PIF has so many investments around the world that it should be compelled to prove there are no conflicts of interest as it spends big with its bottomless pit of cash on ageing players,” said one European club, on condition of anonymity.
Heading 4: Kante’s Future
N’Golo Kante, Chelsea’s top earner on £300,000-a-week, has turned down the offer of a new deal to extend his Chelsea career and is instead on the verge of agreeing a deal with Al Ittihad worth an astonishing £86 million per season.
Heading 5: Conclusion
The Saudi Pro League’s spending spree could provide a quick fix to Chelsea’s FFP concerns, but rival clubs are unhappy with the prospect of the club effectively playing a “get out of jail free card.” The timing of the Pro League’s recruitment drive could not have come at a better time for clubs at risk of flouting regulations.