Saudi Arabian clubs are actively pursuing top players from English Premier League teams, including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Negotiations are underway, and several players are being targeted for potential moves to Saudi Arabia. Let’s delve into the latest transfer rumours and updates.
Al Ahly’s Pursuit of Edouard Mendy and Riyad Mahrez
Al Ahly is close to finalizing a deal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. The Senegalese shot-stopper has been a key player for Chelsea in recent seasons, but his playing time decreased in the previous campaign. Al Ahly’s offer includes a three-year contract, and negotiations are in the final stages.
In addition to Mendy, Al Ahly has set its sights on Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez. Reports even suggest that the club president travelled to England to discuss terms with the Algerian player. The proposed offer is a two-year contract with wages amounting to 50 million euros per season.
Furthermore, Bernardo Silva of Manchester City may also be considered for a move to Saudi Arabia, although specific details about his potential destination remain unclear.
Chelsea’s Interest in Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves
Apart from Al Ahly’s pursuit of Mendy, Chelsea is also keen on acquiring 32-year-old centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly for Al-Hilal. However, they face competition from Inter, who are also interested in signing the Senegalese defender. Al-Hilal is ready to offer a three-season contract with an annual salary of €30 million.
Furthermore, Al-Hilal is close to securing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves. The deal is reportedly worth €47 million in compensation for Wolves.
Al-Nasr’s Target: Hakim Ziyech
Al-Nasr, another Saudi Arabian club, has set its sights on Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea. Positive talks are underway, and if the deal goes through, Ziyech could earn around €30 million per year in Saudi Arabia. The negotiations are progressing well.
Missed Opportunities with Messi, and Neymar
Saudi Arabia had previously shown interest in signing Lionel Messi, with the country even being considered as a potential destination for the Argentine forward. However, Messi ultimately chose to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami. As a result, Al-Hilal shifted its focus to Neymar, who had previously played alongside Messi at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. While negotiations were pursued, the agreement amount was more modest at €200 million. Neymar, however, seems intent on continuing his career in Europe and is likely to explore other options.
Saudi Arabian clubs are actively pursuing top talent from English Premier League teams, with negotiations underway for players such as Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Hakim Ziyech. While some deals are close to completion, others are still in the negotiation stage. However, missed opportunities with Lionel Messi and Neymar highlight the ambition of Saudi Arabian clubs to attract world-class players to their league.
