Boehly's Riyadh visit: How the Chelsea co-owner may've sparked a much-needed Lukaku auction

COMMENT: Whether by fault or design, Todd Boehly could be onto a winner with his very public visit to Riyadh this month.

We're now getting more detail of the Chelsea co-owner's trip, which is said to have been dominated by sponsorship talks with Riyadh Air, but also included a meeting with the Saudi Pro League's (SPL) football chief Michael Emenalo.

Of course the Chelsea connection is obvious, Emenalo spending over a decade with the Blues, helping develop the academy, the club's ground-breakng loan system and also senior recruitment. Now running things for the SPL, Emenalo's presence - at least Boehly hopes - will assist in attempts to find a buyer for Romelu Lukaku.

Indeed, that was the purpose of the pair meeting, with Boehly eager to find buyers for several players now written off by the club's management team. Of which top of the list is Lukaku, currently on-loan with AS Roma.

Brought to the Giallorossi by former coach Jose Mourinho - and now also former sporting director Tiago Pinto - there appears little appetite from the Friedkins to push through a permanent deal. Beyond Lukaku's wage demands, even the set price of 40m is beyond the ambitions of Roma's owners - no matter the urgings of current coach Daniele de Rossi.

So Boehly must look elsewhere to find a buyer - and Saudi appears the easiest bet. But by his visit becoming public, the American - whether it be deliberate or unintentional - is flushing out other suitors across Europe.

Inside the SPL, we know Lukaku is a wanted man. And it will be interesting to witness how the League handles the Belgian's availability. Of course, first of all Lukaku will need to be persuaded about the move. But if he is, then the question will be raised: does this turn into an SPL auction? With the League's biggest spenders all backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), if this does become a bidding war between clubs, will PIF take a hands-off approach or choose Lukaku's club themselves?

Boehly no doubt will be hoping for the former, particularly with agents convinced Chelsea need to raise at least 100m to avoid Financial Fair Play penalties - and that's before attempting any new outlay over the summer. But as we say, even if PIF do put their foot down, there's every chance their clubs will still find themselves in an auction.

In France and Spain, Lukaku has his admirers - and big-spending ones at that. Inside Atletico Madrid, the centre-forward has been discussed. His work under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan not lost on Atleti's Italian sports director Andrea Berta. Nor on coach Diego Simeone, who appreciates Lukaku's past willingness to work to the strict demands of Conte.

In Paris, Luis Campos, PSG's transfers chief, is also a fan - as is club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. While his reputation has taken a dent in England, no-one has such doubts about Lukaku's status on the continent. With the need to replace a Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe, the option of signing the Belgian has been put forward. Indeed, in terms of his Riyadh trip, we can also add Paris to Boehly's sojourns. It's no secret the American has been meeting with PSG officials in recent months.

So it could yet happen. An auction. A bidding war. Between the greats of Europe and the upstarts from Saudi. And no matter the destination, it will be a good move for all involved - not the least Boehly and Chelsea.

This column has been critical - highly so - of the team planning of Chelsea's current management chiefs. Indeed, even regarding the Saudi connection, we'd question the wisdom of writing off Kalidou Koulibaly after just a year, choosing Robert Sanchez over Edouard Mendy and even allowing N'Golo Kante to come off contract. Just how much further into their development would Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo be with a fully fit NG as the their midfield anchor? The veteran is thriving with Al-Ittihad to the extent where there's been calls for Didier Deschamps to recall him for France.

But the sale of Lukaku makes sense. Just as it does with Kepa Arrizabalaga and even Marc Cucurella, who was another raised in that Emenalo meeting. Players that will help Chelsea get closer to that FFP target, but without bringing any instability to the current squad. Others mentioned, like Conor Gallagher and Mykhaylo Mudryk, are a different case. But let's be positive and hope - unlike with Koulibaly - that Chelsea's top brass recognise it's time for stability and gradual growth, rather than more drastic change.

Boehly's work here is a positive. Even with him stepping back from his original hands-on role, that the co-owner is making these moves and drumming up sales interest is proactive. And by letting his trip to Riyadh reach the public, he may even make Chelsea a few extra quid from the auction of Romelu Lukaku.