According to reports, Hakim Ziyech is close to concluding a transfer from Chelsea to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and Kalidou Koulibaly is also nearing a move to the Middle East.
Ziyech and Koulibaly are just two of the players that are available for transfer as Chelsea looks to raise cash this summer in order to pay off debt from the previous two spending sprees and fund more projects for this year.
When Blues co-owner Todd Boehly recently travelled to Saudi Arabia for discussions with a number of football officials, one of the subjects of discussion was the availability of Chelsea’s peripheral players.
Ziyech will be the first Chelsea player to travel to the Middle East this summer, according to sources who spoke with 90min after the Saudi leadership pushed swiftly in this direction.
Ziyech has reached an agreement on a three-year contract to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, and he will soon get a medical before signing the contract.
Regarding Koulibaly, negotiations for a transfer to Al-Hilal are continuing. The former Napoli centre-back has declined a permanent deal to Saudi Arabia in favour of returning on loan to Serie A.
A three-year contract through 2026 is also on the table for the 31-year-old, and a deal regarding personal terms is almost ready to be finalized.
The representatives of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are still being talked to by Saudi officials in other locations. Neither player has an agreement in place just yet, but according to sources close to Chelsea, the Blues are certain that both will go for Saudi Arabia.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been considered, although he is not currently interested in moving to the Middle East. Romelu Lukaku has been targeted but is eager to stay in Europe.