Chelsea boss Todd Boehly heads to Saudi Arabia as he prepares for summer exits
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly recently made a trip to Saudi Arabia with summer transfers on the agenda.
Boehly met with Saudi Pro League football director Michael Emenalo on a recent visit to the Gulf state, as well as the country's sports minister.
According to the Daily TelegraphThe meeting was held in the capital, Riyadh, with transfers on the agenda, as well as Chelsea Look to raise funds this summer.
Chelsea are also believed to be in talks with airline Riyadh Air to become the club's new shirt sponsor next season.
Current sponsors Infinite Athlete only signed a one-year deal at the end of the season after the Blues began the campaign without a shirt sponsor.
After Chelsea announced their financial results for the year, making for worrying reading, it has been alleged that the club will need to raise funds this summer in the transfer market, although the Blues have denied this.
Saudi Arabia has provided a generous dumping ground for Chelsea previously for Boehly, who managed to transfer 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 traveled to the Middle East, although this was after his contract expired.
Romelu LukakuCurrently on loan at AS Roma, he could be a topic of discussion after Boehly tried to sell the striker last summer but the Belgian refused.
However, Lukaku's stance on a Saudi move 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.
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“Clubs put a lot of effort into bringing 'great' players here. As a result, the teams and football qualities improve significantly.”
Emenalo is said to be a big admirer of Lukaku and even facilitated his arrival at Chelsea as a teenager when he was manager for nine years.
Now, in his new role as director of football for the Saudi Pro League, Emenalo is responsible for charting 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 offload Kepa Arrizabalaga and Lukaku this summer.
Marc Cucurella, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are expected to be sold this summer, while Conor Gallagher's future is also up in the air, although the local trio appears unlikely to move to Saudi Arabia.
Raheem Sterling He is also expected to stay at Stamford Bridge after turning down a Saudi transfer last summer.
