Saudi Arabia proving a lucrative exit route for Chelsea’s unwanted players

What started out as a trickle of rumours is about to transform into a tsunami of transfers out of SW6 as we edge closer to players being out of contract at the end of this month.

Chelsea have already confirmed that recently injury-plagued N’Golo Kante is heading off to the sunny climes of Saudi Arabia for one last massive payday.

The French midfielder, 32, is well-loved and respected by the Chelsea faithful.

He was the antithesis of the flashy, supercar-owning footballer who would rock up at the Cobham training ground in a Lamborghini. Kante, by contrast, would park up in his Mini.

He has joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal that will net the quiet one about £85million.

Saudi Arabia, like China a few years ago, is using its wealth to attract world superstars, on their last legs, in an attempt to sportswash their country into a more attractive and welcoming environment.
Human rights charges can be levelled at most countries at some point, and no one is immune to investigation.

The Saudis are using their vast oil wealth in a hope to change world perceptions of them and their activities.

They are also investing heavily in hedge funds and other multinational investment groups.

They, in turn, are eying the Premier League as a means of using that wealth to secure investment in clubs and thus turn a handsome profit on that oil-producing wealth.

Chelsea has been bought by investment company Clearlake Capital Group. Where they get some of their funding from is, as yet, unclear – but it looks as if they will be selling off their out-of-date stock of players for a pretty penny to a host of Saudi clubs.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Hakim Zyiech and Kalidou Koulibaly are all following Kante out to the Middle East.

Also off, but staying domestically, is midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who is joining treble-winners Manchester City. Kai Havertz will be taking his love of donkeys to a whole new level by joining Arsenal, with Mason Mount’s ever so unbearably long and protracted move to Manchester United just about done and dusted.

This of course leaves players who have virtually no sell-on value, but are also not wanted at Stamford Bridge.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hoping that someone, preferably Barcelona, will be tempted by his rock-bottom price. At a sniff, Chelsea will just let him go for nothing.

Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta will be bench-warming for much of next season, unless a club tries to pinch him. He turned down joining Barcelona last season, instead taking a two-year deal which at the time saw him agree to stay and use his wealth of experience to calm the dressing room waters during a turbulent time.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s move to AC Milan is still on and his departure will be greeted with a degree of sadness by long-standing Chelsea watchers who saw his immense talent wasted by a succession of managers who failed to give him the confidence and support to express his elite ability.

Injuries are part of most footballers’ lives and should not cloud the Chelsea career of probably the most gifted of their academy players.

But if it looks like it’s all one-way traffic out of the revolving doors at Stamford Bridge, there are still a couple of players ready to don the blue.

France international Christopher Nkunku has signed from German outfit RB Leipzig.

He is known as a ‘versatile striker’ so just how he will operate in Mauricio Pochettino’s side is yet to be determined. That’s Chelsea for you.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD