It was inevitable: a club looking to trim its bloated squad doing business with a new super league throwing money around as if it grew on trees.
Yet the links between Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League are, again, amplifying questions around the complex web of billionaire businessmen and state investment vehicles that are assuming greater control of the sport.
Earlier this month it was announced that four of the biggest Saudi clubs were being taken over by the Public Investment Fund, who are mostly known as Newcastle's majority owners and the recently installed kings of golf.
