Premier League giants Chelsea have been on a cleaning spree this summer, hoping to improve their record before the June financial year-end in order to avoid violating financial fairness regulations. Chelsea's plan has taken a big leap forward in the past 48 hours, with the sale of six of their biggest stars - Nicolai Kendrick, Aidoo Aventis, Ghoulibani, Scherzinger, Kovacs and Xaviers - with the first four going to Saudi Arabia, and some European clubs are reportedly questioning the transfer of benefits between Chelsea and Saudi Arabia, and are demanding a thorough investigation from the European Football Association (UEFA).
Chelsea spent nearly 600 million pounds (about HK$6 billion) on purchases in the last two transfer windows after American tycoon Paulie took over last year, leaving the team overstuffed and bloated with players who are not in line with the Premier League's/European Football Association's Financial Fairness Regulations, and need to clear out as much as possible before the end of June. Chelsea managed to clear six stars within 48 hours from Tuesday (20), with news that Aubameyang, Lukaku, Herschel O'Toole and Mason Mount will also leave the team.
Chelsea announced that Nicolai Jandy will join the Etihad as a free agent, then sold Aidoo Yavadi to Jeddah Ali for £10 million (about HK$100 million), Ghoulibani to Hilal for £20 million (about HK$200 million), and Xue Yegi to Ainas for £8 million (about HK$80 million). Che also sold Kovacs to Manchester City for £30 million (about HK$300 million) and Xaviers to Arsenal for £65 million (about HK$650 million).
According to the Daily Mail, Saudi Arabia's money has become the escape door for Chelsea's bulk cargo this time. In addition to Nicolai Jendi, Aidoo Aventis, Ghoulibani, and Xue Yezhi, the news said that Aubameyang, Lukaku, and Herschel O'Doul are all Saudi Arabia's clubs, and a delegation from Saudi Arabia has even set up an operational headquarters at a hotel in London in preparation for the purchase of a large amount of money in the English Premier League.
Chelsea, which was originally in financial crisis, has suddenly been rescued by Saudi Arabia, which has aroused a lot of suspicion in the soccer circle. According to the Daily Telegraph, several European soccer clubs have demanded a thorough investigation by the European Football Association (EFA) under the slogan of "fair market", suspecting that transfer of benefits is involved. Chelsea's parent company, Clearlake Capital, is a major investor in Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund (PIF).
