Saudi Professional League (Roshan League) officials have begun planning early for the upcoming summer transfer window, in a determined effort to continue their project of attracting elite international football stars, amid increasing news and press reports confirming that the ambition does not stop at one name, but includes a heavyweight list headed by Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, and Portuguese Bruno Fernandes.

Recent reports, most notably one published by Foot Mercato, reveal that Mohamed Salah's agent is in advanced talks with Al-Ittihad's management regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabia. Sources indicate that the Egyptian star is becoming more open to the idea of ​​leaving Liverpool and embarking on a new challenge, especially after overcoming recent difficulties and with his contract nearing its end, making next summer a crucial period for his future.

In a related development, Saudi ambitions weren't limited to Liverpool's top scorer. Sports journalist Khaled Al-Rashid revealed that league officials are seriously pursuing the signing of Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester United captain. Fernandes' name had previously been linked to Al-Hilal, but the player opted to remain with the Red Devils. Fernandes has been a key player for United since his move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 for a fee of around £47 million, and he has continued to impress this season, scoring six goals and providing 13 assists in 25 Premier League appearances.

Context of the historical transformation in Saudi sports

These moves are part of a broader strategy that effectively began with Al-Nassr's historic signing of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo in the winter of 2013, a deal that opened the floodgates to a surge of star players. This was followed by a busy summer that saw the arrival of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Neymar, Sadio Mané, and others, placing the Saudi league in the global spotlight as a competitive destination rather than just a retirement club.

Strategic importance and expected impact

Signing players of the caliber of Salah and Fernandes isn't just about raising the technical level of matches; it also carries enormous marketing and economic implications. The presence of Mohamed Salah, as the most famous Arab icon globally, will boost the league's popularity in the Arab world, Africa, and Britain to unprecedented levels. Furthermore, attracting top players from English Premier League clubs (like Henderson previously and the current attempt to sign Bruno) sends a powerful message about the purchasing power and growing appeal of the Saudi sports project within the framework of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources and make sports a key driver of the economy and tourism.

As part of the Saudi clubs’ ongoing efforts to strengthen their ranks with the most prominent international football stars, recent press reports have revealed serious moves by the management of Al-Nassr Saudi Club to conclude a high-caliber attacking deal, coinciding with deciding the fate of one of the team’s current professionals.

Al-Nassr targets a replacement for João Félix.
According to the "Topskills Sports" platform, Al-Nassr has placed the talented English winger Mason Greenwood, star of Olympique Marseille, at the top of its priorities for the upcoming period. This proactive move comes as part of the club's plan to compensate for the potential departure of Portuguese star João Félix at the end of the current season. Greenwood's market value is currently estimated at around 50 million euros, reflecting the significant technical value he would add to Al-Nassr's attack.

The battle between Europe's elite clubs and the massive Saudi offer
makes Al-Nassr's task far from easy, given the fierce competition for the player's services. Greenwood is one of the most talked-about names in the European transfer market. He was previously linked with Al-Hilal, who reportedly made a €100 million offer last winter, in addition to concrete interest from Atlético Madrid and internal discussions within his former club, Manchester United, about the possibility of re-signing him. However, the financial offer from the Saudi league could prove decisive, with estimates suggesting the player could receive an astronomical annual salary of between £80 and £100 million.

Greenwood has been delivering exceptional performances for Marseille since joining in the summer of 2024, with statistics showing he has played 68 matches, scoring 44 goals and providing 14 assists, making him a lethal attacking option for any team that secures his services.

John Duran departs for Russia.
On the other side of Al-Nassr's transfer window, the club's management has finalized the fate of Colombian striker John Duran, with reports indicating his move to Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg on loan. The loan agreement extends until the end of the 2025-2026 season, in a deal that will see the Russian club acquire the player for €4 million plus bonuses, with no option to buy included in the agreement.

A notable aspect of the deal is that Al-Nassr will continue to pay the player's hefty annual salary of approximately €20 million throughout the loan period. This decision comes after a mixed spell for Duran, who made 21 appearances for Fenerbahçe this season (scoring 5 and assisting 3), while scoring 13 goals in 20 appearances for Al-Nassr across all competitions, including 8 in the Turkish Super Lig, but failed to lead the team to any titles.

In preparation for an Asian encounter
on the field, the team is currently focusing on continental commitments, as Al-Nasr prepares for an important match this evening against the Arkadag team, within the first leg of the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League 2, in a match through which “Al-Aalami” seeks to confirm its superiority and move forward towards the continental title.

Tottenham Hotspur announced on Wednesday the dismissal of their Danish manager, Thomas Frank, less than eight months after he took charge of the team. This decisive decision came a day after a painful 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, a loss that deepened the London club's woes and left them in 16th place in the Premier League table, dangerously close to the relegation zone.

In an official statement reflecting the unease within the club, the North London side said: "Results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this stage of the season was necessary." This decision presents the club's management with a new challenge: finding the team's sixth permanent manager in just seven years, highlighting the managerial instability Spurs have been experiencing recently.

Disastrous figures hastened the departure

The decision to sack him wasn't made on a whim, but rather stemmed from a series of negative results and the team's worst run in many years. The London club hadn't tasted victory in their last eight league matches, marking their worst streak since October 2008. Statistics reveal the extent of the team's struggles under Frank's leadership domestically, with Tottenham winning only two of their last 17 league games and accumulating a mere 12 points during this critical period – a points tally more befitting a bottom-of-the-table team than one of the Premier League's elite.

The paradox of European performance and domestic failure

Thomas Frank, who previously made a name for himself as manager of Brentford, took over at Tottenham last June, succeeding Australian Ange Postecoglou, and signed a long-term contract until 2028. Despite a disastrous domestic campaign, the Danish manager's sole positive achievement came in European competitions. The 52-year-old guided Spurs to direct qualification for the Champions League round of 16 after finishing fourth in their group (under the new format of the tournament).

However, this European success did little to appease the manager's dismal league record this season, which included seven wins, eight draws, and 11 losses. Adding to the fans' frustration was Tottenham's early exit from both domestic cup competitions; they were knocked out of the League Cup in the fourth round by Newcastle in October and then eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round by Aston Villa last month, leaving the team empty-handed in domestic competitions.

North London stability crisis

This dismissal reopens the debate surrounding Tottenham's lack of managerial stability and the challenges facing the board in developing a sustainable sporting project that will return the team to competing for domestic titles, rather than merely aiming for European qualification or avoiding relegation. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the identity of the next manager, who will be tasked with salvaging the team's league season and attempting a deep run in the Champions League.