TODD BOEHLY made a secret trip to Saudi Arabia amid speculation Chelsea are planning to sell more players to the country’s Pro-League this summer.
Chairman and co-controlling owner Boehly is believed to have held talks with the Pro-League’s director of football and former Blues technical director Michael Emanalo.
Chelsea announced pre-tax losses of more than £90million last week which means they are looking to offload some of the squad this summer to stay within Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
It is thought they may have to raise £100m by the end of June so Boehly is paving the way with a series of meetings in the Arab state.
Former Chelsea stars N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibably all quit Stamford Bridge for Saudi last summer.
Boehly is preparing for another round of outgoings with on-loan players Romelu Lukaku and keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga top of the list.
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Lukaku, 30, is scheduled to return from his year’s long loan at Italians Roma at the end of the season and has two years left on his £325,00- a-week contract.
He has a £37m release clause in his contract but money is no object to Pro-League teams.
Kepa, 29, is at Real Madrid and while he is keen to stay, the £180K Spaniard has fallen down the pecking order and is now resigned to coming back, as SunSport revealed.
Kepa has a further 12 months left on his contract but with Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez ahead of him in the queue for the No1 spot, his future at Chelsea looks uncertain.
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Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah could also be on the move.
Gallagher, 23, sees his contract at Stamford Bridge expire at the end of next season and he is no closer to signing an extension.
Broja is currently on loan at Fulham, who paid Chelsea a loan fee of around £750,000 in January but the total will increase to £4m if the striker fails to start 60 per cent of the Cottagers’ games.
And Chalobah has only played five times this season after an injury setback and will want more opportunities.
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The trio are all up for sale because they are Chelsea academy graduates.
Selling the stars will help the West Londoners avoid breaking financial rules as homegrown players count as 100 per cent profit.
Marc Cucurella has also fallen down the pecking order after recently returning from ankle injury.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
