The 2022/23 summer transfer window is in full swing and there are quite a number of transfers being completed already. One thing that is notable, though, is that this window is yet to give us one or more blockbuster transfer fee like we have seen in previous windows. Fans have been pampered to a fault, with signings like Lionel Messi to PSG, Jack Grealish to Man City and so on, causing quite the excitement and adrenaline among club supporters.
Chelsea FC, last season, were bought over by a consortium led by American business owner, Todd Boehly and co. The new owners, itchy to make an instant splash both on and off the field, have since spent a staggering 600 million pounds in transfer signings in less than 1 year in charge. This caused quite a frenzy among Blues fans, as well as attracting hate from opposition fans. When most of those signings failed to live up to expectations, however, coupled with other first team players not performing as they should, the opposition rejoiced and the board pondered on how to get rid of these “deadwood” players earning big wages without replicating it on the field.
For a club mostly known for big money signings, many expected that the imminent squad clear-out will avail clubs the opportunity to pick up Chelsea’s unwanted players on the cheap. Guys like Koulibaly, Mount, Aubameyang, Mendy and co appeared like waiting ducks for the hunter’s gun. I assume many clubs already drew up plans months earlier on which of these players they’ll pick up for cut-price fees.
The first club to get a shocker from Chelsea was Inter Milan. The latter had just enjoyed Lukaku on loan and went back in to see if they could extend the loan for another year, this time, for a reduced loan fee. To show how audacious they were, they even registered an interest in want-away Blues defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, albeit on loan. They were told a big fat “No” by Chelsea. Apparently, the club was uninterested in loaning out their big players anymore and were only looking at permanent sales for them.
The timing coincided with the Saudi Arabian money splash entry into the transfer market. Having previously picked up World Great, Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nasir), the Saudi League looked to attract even more big names in order to boost its football. Benzema soon followed and suddenly, a big dog was on the scene with stupendous wealth to price opposition players away, leaving everyone happy.
This was certainly music to Chelsea’s ears as, since the start of the window till now, Ziyech, Koulibaly. Kante and Mendy are all one step away from joining the Saudi league. Names like Aubameyang look to follow suit, with Chelsea set to net almost 100 million pounds from these outgoings. Who would have ever thought this possible before the start of the window? Even Lukaku would have been sold as well (with the player subject to a big money big bid) had it not been for the Belgian’s reluctance to leave Europe just yet. This new wave spells bad news for the opposition clubs who, unfortunately, don’t look to possess the financial muscle to battle it out with the Saudis.
For those who follow Chelsea keenly and know how their co-owner, Todd Boehly, likes to do business, these chain of transfer events wouldn’t surprise them. Boehly was, after all, spotted in Saudi Arabia meeting with the Saudis a week or so before the Public Investment Fund (PIF) guys arrived in England with their suitcases of cash in exchange for their Chelsea targets. For those who may not know the PIF, they are the driving force behind the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and the ‘bad guys’ ‘spoiling” the transfer market while agreeing deals on behalf of various Saudi clubs in a bid to boost its league.
What some others may not know is the fact that the PFI are also minority stakeholders with Clearlake Capital—the group that paid the about 2.5billion pounds fee needed to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich following the Russian’s ouster by the British government. It is on this note that fans are calling for an inquest into what looks like underhand practice between Chelsea, its new owners and their perceived business partners from Saudi Arabia. The PFI having a small stake in Clearlake has led many to draw conspiracy theories and even brandish outlandish claims of money laundering.
The fact, however, is that business is business and football has long sold its soul to money. Why complain now? Boehly has goods that are dispensable, the Saudis have their eyes on those goods and value them enough to pay significant sums for them. Money changes hands, hands lock hands, faces smile at each other and everyone goes home happy. It is what it is and, cry as you may, there is nothing worth investigating in all of this. In the eye of the law, it is simply two business outfits trading, simple as that.
While Boehly and co will be happy to recoup tons of cash from their unwanted commodities and turn around to spend that cash on their summer targets, opposition clubs would remain unhappy that they couldn’t exploit the Chelsea situation and get those commodities on the cheap. It’s the irony of life; a tale of two worlds, with Chelsea emerging as victors.
Neutral fans can agree that this conspiracy theory is dead on arrival and clubs should now turn their attention to other ventures as the window is still very much ripe, with time still remaining aplenty. The Arabian bullies arrived and the cunning traders from Stamford Bridge benefited thereof. That is the only plausible story to tell here. Can everyone move on now? Thank you.
