From the Pitch to the Headlines: A Look at Saudi Pro League Transfer Rumors
- Fabinho to Al Ittihad
- Mahrez to Al Ittihad
- Mane to Al Ettifaq
Saudi Pro League Latest Transfer Rumours
From star players to promising talents, the transfer market in the Saudi Pro League is buzzing. But with so many rumors floating around, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. In this article, we break down various rumors and give our analysis on which are more probable than others.
Fabinho to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad
As per reputed journalist David Ornstein, Al-Ittihad is set to make a concrete bid to sign Fabinho from Liverpool for £40m. The Brazil midfielder made 31 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool last season and has been an integral part of the trophy-winning team put together by Jurgen Klopp.
The 29-year-old had signed a 5-year contract with Liverpool at the start of the 2021-22 Premier League season. Last season was challenging for Liverpool and Fabinho was one of those heavily criticised for lackluster performances.
From, Al-Ittihad side the move is being led by their coach Nuno Espírito Santo. The duo have worked together before at Rio Ave and Nuno has since been a fan of the Liverpool Midfielder.
Also Read: Mbappe To Mohd Salah: Top 10 Saudi Pro League Transfer Rumors
Will the transfer go through?
Logically it makes sense for Liverpool to offload Fabinho if the valuation being quoted is met. Liverpool had a very dismal last season and much of the blame for that was put on the ageing midfield department. They have already bought 2 new midfielders to boost their ranks and it is believed that 1-2 more are on the way. Though Henderson is also being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq, it remains to be seen if Klopp would want to sanction this move.
Our Prediction
I think this transfer goes through. It is very evident that Liverpool is eager to completely rebuild their midfield department and £40m in this market can come very handy.
Mahrez to Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli
As per Athletic, Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli is ready to make a £30million bid for Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez. The 32-year-old still has 2 years left on his contract and has been offered £25m in Salary.
Mahrez has been an integral part of the Trebele winners Manchester City where he arrived from Leicester City in a deal worth £60m at the start of the 2018-19 Premier League season. This made him the most expensive African player ever.
Will the transfer go through?
It is believed that the player is in two minds and needs some time to discuss with his family and decide. Moreover, City is said to be also mulling over the deal and isn’t in a hurry to accept even if it would represent terrific value for money considering Mahrez’s age.
From Manchester City’s perspective it will make sense to offload Mahrez now given that the best years of his career are now behind him, the only issue will be replacing him now as they were already short on wingers last season with only Foden & Grealish being natural wingers.
Our Prediction:
I think this transfer goes through, £ 30 million for a 32-year-old is incredibly good value. Moreover, the City has its own ambitions in the transfer market with them being associated with Josko Gvardiol, and will need funds to balance the FFP regulations.
Sadio Mane to Saudi Pro League Club Al Ettifaq
As per 90 min, Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane is a target for Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq currently managed by ex-Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard.
The 31-year-old had moved to Bayern just the last season from Liverpool in a deal worth £28 million. He had 12 goals & 6 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Mane had a falling out with Bayern Management and the rest of the squad after his on-pitch fight with teammate Leroy Sane last season and has since been mired in speculation regarding his future.
Will the transfer go through?
While Bayern will want this move ideal given their own pursuit of a transfer for Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspurs, the key to this transfer is in Mane’s hands. It is believed that Mane would want to contemplate a little more before deciding on his next move.
For Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq, the move is being pushed by their new manager Steven Gerrard who is desperate to add to his ranks ahead of the upcoming season. Al Ettifaq has also been with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and might try to reunite the two players in Saudi Arabia.
Our Prediction
This transfer looks doubtful at the moment. Sadio Mane believes he still belongs at the highest level and might try to get a deal with another club in Europe. Financially though this might be the most attractive offer on the table for him.
Impact of these transfers on Saudi Pro League Clubs
Ever since the Qatar World Cup, Saudi Arabia through its sovereign fund – PIF(Public Investment Fund) has been trying to boost the image of the country and make it a football destination. With many household names like Firmino, Koulibaly & Savic
already making the switch to Saudi Pro League Clubs this seems like a decisive window into the history of the league.
Who could have thought that Ballon d’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo & Karim Benzema would be plying their trade in Saudi Pro League for the upcoming season? It will be fair to say that it is still early in the window and there is a lot more in the store still to unravel.
Future of Saudi Pro League:
If we analyze all the completed transfers to date, there is a common theme across them. Except for a few like Savic to Al Hilal & Neves to Al Hilal, most of the players targeted are in the twilight of their careers. The lure for these players has been the bumper offers being rolled out by Saudi Pro League clubs funded through PIF.
To increase the overall competition in the league, it will take years of effort in both buying & nurturing good talent. While this is a good start buying a few names will not get you the viewership & fan following that the likes of the Premier League & La Liga have.
