In a bid to transform Saudi Arabian football, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has set its sights on acquiring two more Chelsea Football Club (CFC) stars, namely Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku. Pending official confirmation, the PIF has already brought N’Golo Kante to Saudi Arabia, and they are now seeking to court these two prolific strikers to join Pro League clubs in the Middle East country.

This strategic move marks a significant shift in the Saudi Arabian football landscape as the PIF has recently acquired a 75% stake in four prominent Pro League clubs: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli. The overarching vision behind these acquisitions is to attract the best players from around the world to Saudi Arabia, and thus far, they have been successful in enticing some of Europe’s biggest names to join the Saudi League. Follow your favourite Pro League club with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

One notable acquisition has been the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Nassr, which took place in January. Additionally, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante are set to play for Al Ittihad, further cementing the growing presence of top-tier talent in the Saudi League. Numerous other players have also been linked to potential moves to the Pro League.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been marginalized at Chelsea, finds himself at a crossroads in his career. Having played a mere 961 minutes throughout the entire season, the 33-year-old forward may see his time at Stamford Bridge cut short as he considers a move to Saudi Arabia after just one year with the London-based club. Reports suggest that Al Shabab and Al Ahli, two Saudi Arabian clubs, have expressed interest in signing Aubameyang during the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to Get French Football News, Aubameyang is now close to reaching an agreement with the Saudi Arabian PIF. The Gabonese international is expected to join either Al Shabab or Al Ahli, signaling his intention to leave Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino, the incoming manager at Chelsea, has not included Aubameyang in his plans and would not object to his departure from the club.

Not content with one potential raid on Chelsea, the Saudi PIF is planning another ambitious move this summer. Recent reports from GOAL indicate that Romelu Lukaku has received an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. Lukaku, who spent the previous season on loan at Inter Milan after failing to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge in the 2021-2022 season, following his €115 million move in the summer of 2021, has shown interest in exploring the opportunity.

The 30-year-old striker has flown to the Middle East nation to meet with Al Hilal representatives. The Saudi club has proposed a lucrative two-year contract for Lukaku, offering him a substantial salary of €25 million per season. While Lukaku does not have any immediate intentions to return to Chelsea and is open to staying at Inter Milan, the deal is expected to be complex due to financial considerations.

To facilitate a transfer, Al Hilal will need to engage in negotiations with Chelsea, as Lukaku is still under contract with the Blues. Chelsea, who are looking to trim their squad, are willing to sell Lukaku but are likely to demand a transfer fee exceeding €50 million for the Belgian striker. While the Saudi club appears reluctant to pay such a hefty sum, they are open to finding a compromise with Chelsea to secure Lukaku’s services. Get all the latest updates from the Pro League only on Nextbet Sports.