Chelsea co-sporting director Paul Winstanley is one of the men in charge of transfers at Stamford Bridge.
Alongside fellow director Laurence Stewart, Paul Winstanley has helped oversee Chelsea‘s recruitment under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership.
This summer, they have been very busy.
Chelsea have already signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman and Tosin Adarabioyo.
More arrivals are also expected, with it being claimed that Chelsea are targeting Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.
What was Paul Winstanley doing in Saudi Arabia?
There have also been exits at Stamford Bridge during this transfer window.
For example, while Kellyman joined Chelsea from Villa, the Blues allowed Ian Maatsen to join their Premier League rivals.
The Blues are still trying to offload some of their players, with Winstanley allegedly taking a trip to Saudi Arabia to help with that.
Speaking about Chelsea’s co-sporting director on his Substack, journalist Simon Phillips said: “SPTC sources have heard that Chelsea director Paul Winstanley has been in meetings in Saudi this week discussing the potential sales of a number of Chelsea players who the club see as available for sale, putting the feelers out and seeing what interest there was.
“Chelsea see many of their first team squad (players on higher wages) as being up for sale should a good offer come in, and Saudi is the place they feel they might get some of these offers.”
Which Chelsea players could leave west London for Saudi Arabia?
Kepa Arrizabalaga is likely to be one player who Winstanley has discussed.
It has been reported that Al-Ittihad have a genuine interest in Kepa.
Chelsea currently have Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic on their books, so there is little room for the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge right now following the end of his loan spell at Real Madrid.
Romelu Lukaku is also probably another player who Chelsea would love to hand over to a Saudi Pro League club.
He has spent the last two seasons out on loan and is on huge wages.
According to Spotrac, Lukaku is on a £325,000-a-week contract at Chelsea. He is undoubtedly someone who they will want to get rid of this summer.