2023-06-22 18:34:30
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (left) and Hakim Ziyech press the Chelsea bench during a Premier League match.
Image: Imago
Last winter, Chelsea embarked on an unprecedented shopping spree under new owner Todd Boehly. The whole thing was not crowned with success, on the contrary. Now the question arises: What next?
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Chelsea FC embarked on a big shopping spree in January and signed scores of players. After the totally messed up season, several players now have to leave the club. Clubs from Saudi Arabia in particular are already rubbing their hands and positioning themselves. N’Golo Kanté has already signed with Al-Ittihad, and other Chelsea players are likely to follow him to the Saudi Pro League.Some top-class players also want to move within the Premier League.As of June 22, 8 p.m. (in case did something on the transfer market in the meantime)
Todd Boehly has owned Chelsea since May 2022. In his era, he squandered more than 600 million euros for new players alone and burned up several coaches. Success? None! Chelsea finished last season in 12th place and ended up closer to the relegation zone than to European business.
And now the club urgently needs income, otherwise there will also be problems with UEFA. Last but not least, the rescue might come from Saudi Arabia. Because the desert state has put out feelers and is targeting several players. An overview:
There has been speculation for a long time, but his move is now set in stone: 32-year-old Frenchman N’Golo Kanté follows compatriot Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia and signs a contract with Al-Ittihad until 2027. Bitter for Chelsea: Kanté changes on a free transfer.
Hakim Ziyech joined Chelsea from Ajax Amsterdam for €40m in 2020, where he scored 14 goals and 13 appearances in 107 games and won the Champions League in 2021. His contract runs until 2025, but should Ronaldo-Klub Al-Nassr open the suitcase wide, there will hardly be any obstacles in his way. The Moroccan has already agreed verbally with the new club.
Goalkeeper Mendy has a contract with Chelsea until 2025 but Al-Ahli has his sights set on him. In 2020, the 31-year-old switched from Rennes to Chelsea for 24 million euros and won the regular place, which he had recently lost once more. Overall, the 2021 World Cup keeper has played 105 games between the posts at Chelsea and kept 49 clean sheets. Mendy would be welcomed with open arms by many clubs, with Tottenham reportedly putting out feelers. Allegedly, the Senegalese sees his future in Saudi Arabia.
Kalidou Koulibaly is in advanced negotiations with Al-Hilal, only details still need to be clarified. His contract with Chelsea actually runs until 2026 and so the “Guardian” writes that Chelsea is asking for around 30 million euros. The proud club from London would do a bad deal, however, as the 32-year-old was signed for 38 million euros in the summer of 2022. At Al-Hilal, the Senegalese would probably meet Portugal’s Ruben Neves, who should also end up in Saudi Arabia.
The former super talent is in free fall. The Chelsea player was loaned to Bayer Leverkusen last season but didn’t perform as hoped. One goal and one assist in 21 games, that’s the lousy result. The loan has now expired, but the 22-year-old will hardly have a future at Chelsea and so the search for a new club begins. Clubs from Saudi Arabia are apparently already vying for the services of the offensive player. Whether Hudson-Odoi is open to it is another matter.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrated his 34th birthday on 18 June and he mightn’t expect any presents from his current employer as Chelsea are keen to get rid of the Gabonese. No wonder, his performance was poor recently (3 goals this season), but his wages at around 185,000 euros per week were princely. As “Daily Mail” reports, an offer of seven million euros fluttered in for him from Saudi Arabia. Aubameyang himself, who still has a year’s contract with Chelsea, might also imagine a commitment in the US MLS league, but he would prefer to return to FC Barcelona. It remains exciting.
Havertz, Kovacic and Mount should fill the coffers
It is still unclear which of the above-mentioned players will end up in Saudi Arabia. But that would not be the end of Chelsea’s transfer activities anyway. The changes from Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic are apparently close to completion.
The two still see their future in the Premier League. Kovacic has already reached an agreement with Manchester City. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Croatian will cost 29 million euros, plus a further 5.8 million euros as bonus payments.
The signs are also goodbye to German national player Kai Havertz. As “The Athletic” reports, Arsenal is close to an agreement with rival Chelsea. The runner-up is ready to spend around 75 million euros. Havertz, who led Chelsea to Champions League triumph in 2021 with his goal in a 1-0 win over Man City in the final, has reportedly already reached an agreement with the Gunners.
Kai Havertz (left) and Mateo Kovacic celebrate a goal.
Keystone
There are also persistent rumors regarding Mason Mount, who, according to the «Telegraph», has been in agreement with Manchester United for three weeks. If Chelsea want to cash in on the 24-year-old, they will probably have to let their long-time player go because his contract expires in a year. Chelsea will probably not even consider offers under 60 million euros.
If Mason Mount is sold, the cash registers will sound.
Imago
Denis Zakaria, who was loaned to Chelsea by Juventus but hardly played there, will also not play for the Londoners next season. Portuguese João Félix also joined Chelsea in January for a loan fee of 11 million euros. In 20 competitive games, the 23-year-old scored a meager four goals – so his future does not lie with the Blues either.
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