Last summer, Chelsea sold a few players to Saudi Pro League clubs after a disappointing 2022/23 season.
N’Golo Kante, Eduard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly all left Chelsea for Saudi Arabia in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Koulibaly had only been at Stamford Bridge for one season, but that did not stop the central defender from leaving.
A current Chelsea player could now make the same move. Al-Ittihad are targeting Kepa Arrizabalaga as they look to bring in a new goalkeeper.
While Kepa could be moving to Saudi Arabia, though, it looks like one of his former team-mates is wanted back in England.
Al-Ittihad reluctant to let N’Golo Kante go
Kante appears to be a target for Chelsea’s London rivals West Ham United this summer following an impressive Euro 2024 campaign.
Paul Merson loved what he saw from Kante during the tournament, claiming that he was “outstanding”.
West Ham, however, could struggle to bring the midfielder back to the Premier League. According to The Athletic, the Hammers have already had a £15m bid for him rejected.
Their report says that Al-Ittihad have no intention of selling Kante, while the player himself is thought to be happy at the club.
Elsewhere, though, Sky Sports have claimed that £20m could be enough to convince Al-Ittihad to part ways with the Frenchman during this transfer window.
N’Golo Kante could still join West Ham
While Kante may be content with life at Al-Ittihad, you just cannot rule out the 33-year-old joining West Ham or another European club this summer.
That is because the player himself has not ruled out a return to Europe. In one recent press conference, Kante claimed he wasn’t finished with European football, which gives West Ham a bit of hope.
Al-Ittihad, however, look unwilling to grant him a move elsewhere at this moment in time, or at least for £15m. It will now be interesting to see if West Ham or another one of Chelsea’s rivals make a bigger bid for the France international.
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