Newcastle United owners ‘in talks’ over handing Chelsea £60m boost

Chelsea are said to be in talks with a relatively controversial organisation over a sponsorship deal.

The Blues remain in search of a shirt sponsor having started the season with a blank shirt, failing to agree a sponsorship deal ahead of the start of the season. But there could be hope on the horizon for Todd Boehly and the club’s owners, Clearlake, who are said to be in talks over securing a shirt sponsor ahead of the Champions League kicking off later this month, but there is a twist.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea’s chiefs are looking for a £60million-per-year sponsorship deal after their deal with Three, which was worth £40million per year, ended following last season.

According to the report, Chelsea are now in talks with Saudi Arabian firm Riyadh Air over a deal, and any deal is likely to be met with criticism, given the sportswashing allegations that have been made towards Saudi Arabia. Not to mention, this deal would see Chelsea effectively accepting money from Newcastle United’s owners.

Riyhad Air is owned by the Public Investment Fund, which is the Saudi Arabia state fund that crontrols the vast majority of Newcastle.

The twist is that Chelsea are looking to secure a one-year sponsorship deal with Infinite Athlete, with the talks with the Saudi Arabian company reportedly in relation to a multi-year deal that would start next season.

Human rights issues in Saudi Arabia continue to be discussed amid Newcastle’s new-found success on the back of significant investment, not to mention the rise of the Saudi Arabia league. A number of superstars have been bought from Europe this summer after the same fund, PIF, bought a number of the top teams in the country.

Chelsea could now face criticism for accepting sponsorship - should they accept it - from Saudi Arabia.