Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min are the latest Premier League names to have received proposals from The Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Arabia are investing huge money into their domestic league with an ambitious recruitment drive of leading names from Europe, with Karim Benzema among the players to have followed Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East.
The Saudi Arabia ministry of sport announced in June that the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will invest big money into growing the nation’s domestic league, taking control of four teams – Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr – and backing them with funds to bring in overseas talent.
The Athletic are reporting that Bernardo Silva has received a proposal from the division as the midfielder considers an exit from Manchester City.
The Portugal international’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has held talks with Saudi clubs, though it is expected that Silva will turn down a move. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are also interested in signing the 28-year-old.
Meanwhile, ESPN are reporting that Al-Ittihad are preparing a £51m offer for Tottenham’s Son Heung-min. The Saudi champions – who have already completed the signing of Karim Benzema and are on the verge of announcing the arrival of Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante – are targeting a deal for the South Korean forward as the club’s recruitment drive continues.
Son has reportedly been offered a four-year contract worth €30m per season and there is ‘optimism’ that the forward could be persuaded to leave the Premier League. However, Spurs are reluctant to sanction the sale of Son, who has scored 145 goals in 372 appearances for the north Londoners.
