Saudi flop could derail Chelsea's summer transfer plans

Tom Weber

• Updated: 4 Mar 2024 16:36 GMT
• 4 min read

Fulham are interested in Saudi Pro League flop Habib Diallo - and this could be bad news for Chelsea.

The Senegal star tore Ligue 1 to shreds with RC Strasbourg last term, scoring a whopping 20 goals and sealing an €18 million move to Saudi side Al-Shabab in the summer. Strasbourg, Chelsea's BlueCo sister club, could really use a player like Diallo now amid relegation fears in the wake of an incredibly disappointing January transfer window, which has seen a lot of the blame pinned on the Blues.

Indeed, Diallo could already be on the move again in the summer, though a potential return to Alsace has been categorically ruled out. Nevertheless, a transfer seems to beckon for the 28-year-old, who has struggled to come to grips with life in the Middle East.

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So far in 19 games in the Pro League, Diallo has only notched a single goal. Despite this, he remains highly rated due to his exploits in Ligue 1 last season and several Premier League clubs are said to be keeping an eye on his situation.

Fulham to snub Broja?

At least that's according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who reports that Al-Shabab could offload Diallo and pursue Alvaro Morata. He asserts that Wolves enquired about Diallo in January, while the likes of Brentford, Burnley and Fulham hold an interest for the summer.

If Fulham's interest were to evolve into something more concrete, it could spell bad news for Chelsea. The Cottagers signed Armando Broja on loan from the Blues on January Deadline Day, but the 22-year-old has thus far been a peripheral figure.

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In order for Fulham to acquire Broja permanently, they would have to shell out north of €40 million, claims Jacobs, making Diallo a cheaper option. With Chelsea keen to spend big on a striker such as Victor Osimhen in the summer, failure to sell Broja, who would generate 'pure profit,' could have big implications for their transfer plans.