’s domestic and European rivals are demanding an inquiry into the astonishing Saudi Pro League spending spree which could provide the club with a quick fix to their problems both on and off the pitch.
According to the , top ranking officials from Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, which underwrites the competition, have offered Chelsea £100million for five of their players, four of which they have deemed surplus to requirements.
While would rather have retained the services of N’Golo Kante, the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Pierre Emerick would have played bit-part roles at most under the club’s new manager.
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 £86million per season.
Negotiations for the other four players targeted by various Saudi clubs are differing stages but it is understood the Blues are confident of recouping the majority of the money they invested in talent that has failed to thrive in west London.
Romelu Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at Inter, has, however, turned down the offer of a move to the Pro League and is angry with Chelsea for denying him the opportunity to return to last season’s beaten Champions League finalists.
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.
Rival clubs, both at home and abroard, are however, 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.’
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