“He’s not part of Enzo Maresca plan” – £150,000-per-week Chelsea player now in talks over Saudi move

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Chelsea Transfer Updates: Player Movements and Potential Exits

Ongoing Squad Changes under Enzo Maresca

As new manager Enzo Maresca continues to revamp Chelsea’s squad, a “fantastic” £150,000-per-week player is reportedly in talks over a move to Saudi Arabia.

Recent Departures and New Signings

Chelsea has already seen several players leave, including Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding, and Ian Maatsen. These sales have brought in a total of £89 million, helping balance the books after a busy early summer window. Meanwhile, the club has invested £93 million in new signings, such as Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, and Renato Veiga. Despite the significant spending, Chelsea’s net spend of around £4 million keeps them in good standing with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which allow a loss of £105 million over a rolling three-year period.

Potential Player Sales

To further secure their financial stability and make room for new acquisitions, Chelsea is considering selling more players. Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Malang Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Raheem Sterling have all been linked with possible exits. Lukaku has attracted interest from AC Milan and Napoli, with the striker having spent the last two seasons on loan in Serie A. Broja is reportedly a target for Juventus, while Chukwuemeka is wanted by Milan.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s Potential Move to Al-Ittihad

One of the most notable potential exits is goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who earns £150,000 per week. Kepa spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and has drawn interest from both Real Madrid and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. The Athletic has reported that Kepa is in talks with Al-Ittihad, who are looking to reunite him with former Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante. Journalist Guillermo Rai confirmed these discussions, although Kepa has yet to make a final decision. Real Madrid is also considering re-signing him as a potential replacement for Andriy Lunin.

Al-Ittihad has had an initial bid for Kepa turned down, but negotiations are ongoing. Former Chelsea assistant Arno Michels praised Kepa in 2022, highlighting his reliability and penalty-saving abilities. “In the last few matches, I’ve felt him very reliable in his game,” Michels said. “His strength is to save penalties, he’s shown it a few times now: in the Carabao Cup twice, against Villarreal, and even in training, it’s hard to beat him. In penalty shootouts, he has the ability to read the mind of what the player is going to do. We are very happy with Kepa and he deserves this trust because he is a fantastic guy.”

As Chelsea navigates the summer transfer window, the club’s strategic player sales and acquisitions will be crucial in shaping the squad for the upcoming season.