Saudi bid for Chelsea reserves: Are these transfers all right?

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Chelsea London spent more than 600 million last season. Now you need to sell players. Key word: financial fair play. The transfer offensive of the Arab sheikhs came just in time. The Blues brandish significant revenue. Only: Many wonder if everything is going well with the transfers.

The reason for the widespread skepticism is the ownership structure of the respective clubs. It concerns the Arab Public Investment Fund (PIF), which joined Newcastle United a year and a half ago and has connections with its investments far beyond the sports world. Among other things, there would be several billions in the American investment company Clearlake. The company that has owned 60 percent of the shares of Chelsea FC for a year.

Unfounded accusations?

The PIF now owns shares in the four biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League. The clubs that have offered Chelsea more than 100 million for five noble reserves. Top earners such as striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34), winger Hakim Ziyech (30), central defender Kalidou Koulibaly (32) and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (31) could be taken off the payroll. All four players would be about to change. Only Romelo Lukaku (30) would have rejected the offer from Saudi Arabia.

For many fans and experts, this way out seems too easy, they sense a lazy financial trick. Sky pundit Gary Neville has already called on his pre-league channels to investigate this “Saudi trade”.

Chelsea will probably just benefit from it

An investigation will probably be difficult because it doesn’t seem like any rules are being broken. A report by “The Ahtletic” shows that the PIF – like many others – most likely invested a significant amount of money in the investment company Clearlake. In the overall picture of the private equity firm, however, it is probably only a small percentage.

It is more likely that Chelsea can simply take advantage of the situation: the Saudi Pro League is keen to raise awareness and attract big names. For this she uses a club that is very popular in the Middle East and she has to get rid of those big names. (dti)

Source : Blick