Chelsea 'will gladly sell' transfer FLOP to Saudi Arabia

Cameron Smith

• 30 Apr 2024 21:00 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are reportedly hoping to sell Romelu Lukaku to the Saudi Pro League this summer once his loan spell at AS Roma ends.

Lukaku, 30, has spent the past two seasons on loan in Serie A after falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge following a controversial interview with Sky Italia, in which he revealed his desire to return to Inter Milan just months after signing for Chelsea.

Mauricio Pochettiono has refused to rule out the possibility of the Belgium international returning to the first-team fold next season, but Chelsea are hoping to sell Lukaku to Saudi Arabia if the opportunity arises.

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That is according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, who told CaughtOffside: “Chelsea are naturally open to doing more business with Saudi, and they will gladly sell Romelu Lukaku to a Saudi Pro League club.

“Al-Hilal had a €45 million offer accepted last summer but Lukaku wanted to stay in Italy. Al-Hilal now have other targets, but keep an eye on both Al-Shabab and soon-to-be promoted Al-Qadsiyah.”

Although Lukaku joined Chelsea for €113m in 2021, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has plummeted since then and now stands at just €32.4m.

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Raheem Sterling to Saudi Arabia?

While Chelsea are happy to sell Lukaku to the Saudi Pro League, Raheem Sterling is reportedly unlikely to join him in the Middle East, according to Jacobs.

“Sterling remains committed to Chelsea, and is settled in London,” he told CaughtOffside. “But as a high earner at the club, it’s natural there will be speculation about a summer exit.

“Unless Sterling has a major U-turn, he’s going to resist an exit and try to prove any critics wrong. It hasn’t been an easy spell for him at Chelsea, but staying fit and having a run in the side could yet change all that.

“Links with Saudi, and Al-Hilal specifically, are wide of the mark according to my information. Sterling had a very informal approach from Saudi in summer 2023, but since then there has been no contact.”