Chelsea Exclusive: Premier League set for Saudi Pro League transfer raid after CWC
Chelsea and other Premier League clubs look set to be subjected to a late flurry of transfer offers later in the transfer window.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider that despite the Saudi Arabian market calming down in recent windows, they will not stop “trying to recruit those top-end players”.
The Saudi Pro League flipped the transfer market upside down in the summer of 2023 with numerous high-profile players, including Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane heading to the Middle East.
However, after a huge splurge two years ago, spending has calmed down in recent windows.
One-time Man City target Theo Hernandez has made the move to the SPL, but there have been several high-profile failed moves by Saudi clubs, including Al-Hilal’s attempts to sign Bruno Fernandes and moves for Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen falling short.
SPL likely to raid Premier League
But despite business cooling and several failed moves to persuade superstars to leave Europe, finance expert Plumley told Football Insider it was “completely plausible” that the SPL would turn to the Premier League to sign several high-profile players.
The senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University believes that there are likely to be several moves once the Club World Cup has reached its resolution on 13 July.
Chelsea will play PSG in the competition’s final and are one of several clubs in England’s top-flight with a bloated squad that would benefit from selling some of their players to the Middle East.
Plumley said: “I think it’s still completely plausible that happens in this window [a late flurry of transfers from the Premier League to the SPL].
“I think we have seen the Saudi market calm down a little bit from what it was a couple of years ago.
“You’ve seen players go into that league and then come out, but there’s still some world-class and superstar talent that’s still there.
“I don’t think they’ll stop trying to recruit those top-end players, it’s a part of a bigger strategy for them.
“They’ve got the new Vision 2030 for the Kingdom, it’s a bigger plan about football’s place within that.
“So I still think it’s likely that we see both aspects of what you’re talking about there, we’ll likely see the Saudi clubs look to buy in the European market and obviously the PIF themselves are regulating that through the way in which they’re giving the clubs the money.
“I think now the window is fully open and once the Club World Cup is done and out of the way, we’ll see it ramp up.”
Chelsea need player sales after record fine
Plumley previously told Football Insider that Chelsea would likely be surprised with the fines levied against them by UEFA.
Despite avoiding a sanction from the Premier League, the Blues failed the European governing body’s financial rules and have been handed a record-breaking fine.
Another issue now facing Chelsea is their need to sell players before being able to register new signings for the Champions League.
According to The Times, the Blues need to recoup at least £60m in sales before new signings like Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens can be added to their squad for continental competition.