Emenalo: Ex-Chelsea chief warns Premier League, others as Saudi Arabia targets Mbappe, more stars

Saudi Arabia’s football boss Michael Emenalo has sent a transfer warning to Premier League and other top European leagues.

Emenalo is under no illusions that the Saudi Pro League is just getting started as they look to attract more players to the country’s top division.

The Saudis have dominated the summer this season with some of the biggest names in European football already snapped up by Pro League sides.

As reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport announced at the end of last season that the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will take full control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League.

The clubs are the biggest in the Saudi Pro League and include Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, and Al Nassr.

Following that report, these clubs have since combed European Leagues to sign some of the biggest names in the business.

Brazilian superstar, Neymar, is the latest to seal a big money move to Al Hilal, but before him, there have been other big names who had already joined the revolution.

Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo was the first high-profile signing after is now-infamous departure from Manchester United last winter.

Other players led by former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy and Marcelo Brozovic have all since joined at least one of the four clubs mentioned above.

However, despite the high-profile arrivals so far since Ronaldo’s big move, Saudi Arabia is not ready to take its legs off the pedal yet.

According to former Chelsea transfer boss and the director of football in Saudi, Emenalo, who also joined this summer, the Pro League is just starting their spending spree and wants more.

Per a report from Daily Star, the Saudis have set their eyes on more big names led by Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane.

"In a couple of years, in a few short years, this will become a league for exceptional players only,” Emenalo stated.

“It will become a league only for those who [are] at the top of their game. And yes, we have resources and we're going to use those resources to make sure the only players that are here are the ones that are at the top of their game."

Saudi’s emergence and resources could be a big problem for clubs in Europe as they now have competition for players who may be tempted by the lure of improved wages and contracts.

"They have no reason to be scared. I do feel they consider our presence to be disruptive," he added. "I think there is panic in some areas but this is from a misunderstanding of what we stand for, what we are trying to do.

"I was told what Mr [Jurgen] Klopp said and what Mr [Pep] Guardiola said. One is a coach I absolutely admire and the other, Pep, is a good friend of mine”

“First, I hope they don't talk themselves out of a job [here] in future! I understand their concerns. Our goal is to work together with all the leagues and be a brotherhood in the football industry."