Manchester United are missing out on Chelsea transfer market advantage with Saudi Arabia links

It turns out Cristiano Ronaldo was on to something. When the striker departed Manchester United and headed to the Saudi Pro League it looked like a sad end to a glorious career.

But Ronaldo is no longer the lone star in Saudi Arabia. He is being joined by other players swapping the European elite for the riches of the Pro League and the influx of players this summer is going to be a bonus for plenty of selling clubs.

United themselves certainly have a few players they wouldn't mind selling to the Middle East. Al-Hilal to swoop for Alex Telles? Eric Bailly to Al-Nassr? It would help balance the books this summer.

Balancing the books is even more pressing for Chelsea after a £600million spending spree only succeeded in dropping them into the bottom half of the Premier League, but the flights from London to Riyadh look to be proving popular at the moment.

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N'Golo Kante has moved on a free transfer to Al Ittihad already. Al-Hilal want to sign Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Nassr are after Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy looks set for Al-Ahli. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could follow.

What a result this is for Chelsea. Players on substantial wages are not only making room on the wage bill, but mostly bringing in reasonable transfer fees as well. It's soothing their substantial Financial Fair Play issues and giving new manager Mauricio Pochettino enough wriggle room to continue Todd Boehly's bonkers spending spree.

It has been widely reported that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are major investors in Clearlake Capital, Chelsea's majority shareholder, although the club have denied that the group had any involvement in the takeover.

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