Saudi dealmakers are unperturbed by the winter exit of Jordan Henderson to Ajax and don’t feel his departure is damaging to the long-term project.
There is a planned league-wide spend of around £2bn for this summer, inclusive of transfer fees, wages and agent costs.
Saudi clubs spent £750m on transfer fees last summer and this number is likely to be surpassed if certain star names are secured.
The two most high-profile targets are Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
De Bruyne’s camp have already been approached with both Riyadh-based clubs, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, expressing an interest. De Bruyne is contracted until 2025 and Manchester City would expect a fee of over £100m should they entertain an offer. It is still understood Pep Guardiola wants De Bruyne to extend.
Salah was the subject of a £150m bid from Saudi champions Al-Ittihad last summer with a view to signing him in time for last December’s Club World Cup. He remains a target, but Salah is settled at Liverpool so a move is by no means guaranteed this summer. The feeling is Salah will eventually go to Saudi, but summer 2024 isn’t a given.
It is likely Al-Hilal will try this summer, though, having had Salah on their wishlist last summer as well. They are on course to win the Saudi Pro League and are expected to be given priority ahead of Al-Ittihad.
Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara is another name several Saudi clubs are actively pursuing with a view to persuading him to sign a pre-contract. Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq are one of the interested teams.
It’s also understood an approach will be made to Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, who was always on a list of options for 2024. Son firmly downplayed any Saudi move last summer, as did Saudi dealmakers. He would be a very tough target to secure but the same was said of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, both of whom ended up eventually accepting a move despite initial low confidence from dealmakers.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen turned down three big proposals last summer, but admitted he was “tempted” by a Saudi switch. Should he leave Napoli this summer, the Premier League remains a more likely destination, but that may not stop Saudi trying again. Al-Hilal still hold an interest but would prioritise spending their budget on Salah should he become…
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