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Every player linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer

2023-06-09 19:56
Every player who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia's Pro League in the 2023 summer transfer window. Karim Benzema has already joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East, joining champions Al Ittihad.
Every player linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer

Saudi Arabia are seeking to become major players in the world of football and are not afraid of spending money to get there.

Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Manchester United to Al Nassr in January already feels like an eternity ago and has set the stage for what could be a lucrative exodus en masse, with Saudi officials keen to lure some of the game's biggest names over to the Middle East.

With plenty of targets in mind, here's a list of every player to be linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia's Pro League this summer.

Every player linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer

Premier League

N'Golo Kante (Chelsea) - Kante is expected to leave Chelsea as a free agent and has agreed a two-year contract with Saudi champions Al-Ittihad.

Thiago Silva (Chelsea) - The ageing Chelsea centre-back is a target for a number of unnamed Saudi sides, who could be sold for the right price. (football.london)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea) - After loan links back in January, Aubameyang is once again a Saudi target, with Al Ahli and Al Shabab both approaching the Chelsea striker. (Fabrizio Romano)

Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) - Al Ahli are rumoured to be interested in a move for Mahrez, whose Manchester City contract runs until 2025. Club president Waleed Muaath travelled to England to try get a deal done. (CBS Sports)

Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) - Approaching the end of his City contract, Gundogan is wanted in Barcelona but could receive a late offer from Saudi Arabia. (Evening Standard)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham) - Tottenham winger Son is a target for a move to Saudi Arabia in 2024, with work already underway to try get a deal done. (Ben Jacobs)

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) - Lloris has confirmed his desire to leave Tottenham this summer and has been offered the chance to triple his wages in the Middle East. (Times)

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) - There is plenty of interest in Zaha as he approaches the end of his Crystal Palace contract. He could still extend at Selhurst Park but has been offered a £15m-a-year deal in Saudi Arabia. (Sky Sports)

Roberto Firmino (Free agent) - Impending free agent Firmino is expected to receive a 'quite lucrative offer' to move to Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton) - Heading into the last 12 months of his Everton contract, Doucoure is on a list of 'over 50' players wanted in Saudi Arabia. (ESPN)

Yerry Mina (Everton) - Mina joins Everton teammate Doucoure on the same list. His contract expires this summer, however. (ESPN)

Adama Traore (Wolves) - Like Mina, Traore will leave his current club this summer and the former Wolves winger is also on the long list. (ESPN)

La Liga

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - Benzema walked away from Real Madrid this summer in favour of completing a move to Al-Ittihad. (SIGNED)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid) - Modric has committed his future to Real Madrid and will reject an offer from Saudi Arabia to sign an extension in Spain. (Fabrizio Romano)

Eden Hazard (Free agent) - Having already confirmed his own departure from Real Madrid, Hazard could move to Al Nassr after being linked with the Saudi side in January. (Mundo Deportivo)

Sergio Busquets (Free agent) - Busquets, who is leaving Barcelona this summer, has rejected advances from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami.

Jordi Alba (Free agent) - Al Hilal have approached Alba over a free transfer after his departure from Barcelona. (France Televisions)

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) - Lewandowski has rejected an 'astronomical' offer from Saudi Arabia in favour of continuing at Barcelona. (Mundo Deportivo)

Yassine Bounou (Sevilla) - Sevilla goalkeeper Bounou is wanted by Al Ahli, who will rival Inter, Tottenham and Aston Villa for his signature. (Aaron Dominguez)

Iago Aspas (Celta) - A group of Saudi officials have travelled to Spain to try convince Aspas to leave Celta Vigo. (Aaron Dominguez)

Ligue 1

Lionel Messi (PSG) - Messi rejected the most lucrative contract in football history from Al Hilal and will head to Inter Miami this summer. (REJECTED)

Neymar (PSG)- 90min understands that Neymar is of interest to Saudi officials but would prefer to remain in Europe at this point in his career.

Marco Verratti (PSG) - The Italian midfielder has a €60m-a-year offer on the table from Al Hilal if he chooses to leave PSG. (Abdellah Boulma)

Sergio Ramos (Free agent) - Links between Ramos and Saudi Arabia have grown since his departure from PSG, with Al Ahli keen to land the legendary centre-back. (Mundo Deportivo)

Alexis Sanchez (Marseille) - Marseille want to extend Sanchez's contract in France but Saudi officials are looking to lure him away. (L'Equipe)

Serie A

Angel Di Maria (Free agent) - Following his departure from Juventus, Di Maria has options in both Major League Soccer and Saudi Arabia.

Scottish Premiership

James Tavernier (Rangers) - Rangers right-back Tavernier could be offered a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia this summer. (Dean Jones)

Liga NOS

Pepe (FC Porto) - Cristiano Ronaldo wants a reunion with Porto centre-back Pepe at Al Nassr. (Marca)

READ ALL OF THE MAJOR TRANSFER RUMOURS OF THE PAST WEEK HERE

This article was originally published on 90min as Every player linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.