Saudi Pro League side breaks rank with staggering £52m offer to Russia

Saudi Arabia transfer news Russia

Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal want to secure Malcom transfer

PA
Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 24/07/2023

- 16:20

A host of top footballers are moving to the Middle East this summer

The Saudi Pro League have mainly been focusing on signing players from the big leagues this summer.

Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Neves are just a handful of stars to quit the Premier League, while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another exciting arrival from Serie A side Lazio.


But, now, they're set to turn their attentions to Russia as well.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Al-Hilal are confident of signing Malcom from Zenit with a £52million transfer deal on the verge of going through.

Malcom Zenit

Zenit star Malcom is poised to leave Russia for the Saudi Pro League

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The Brazil international has already agreed personal terms with the club and, as a result, his transfer is expected to be sealed without a hitch.

And the move also shows Saudi are willing to do business with Russia, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Many top clubs are refusing to deal with the country as a result of the ongoing conflict.

But Al-Hilal have now broken rank, with Malcom expected to complete his move imminently after four years at Zenit.

The forward had spells at Corinthians, Bordeaux and Barcelona prior to moving in 2019.

And Malcom has been a substantial hit for the club in the years since, scoring 42 goals from 109 appearances.

If Al-Hilal get their way, then the Samba star won't be the last player to join them this summer.

The club are also interested in a sensational move for Kylian Mbappe, with the 24-year-old's future at Paris Saint-Germain currently up in the air.

The striker informed PSG earlier this summer that he wouldn't be renewing his contract with the club.

That would mean Mbappe running down his existing deal and leaving on a free transfer next summer.

But PSG don't want that to happen.

Al-Hilal are now on red alert and are willing to pay the 2018 World Cup winner an eyewatering salary in order to secure his signature.

Mbappe, should he accept their offer to join, become the best-paid player in the history of the sport.

Al-Hilal are prepared to pay the superstar a salary worth €700m per year.

To put that number into even greater perspective, Mbappe would earn €58.33m per month, €1.9m a day, €79,900 an hour, €1,332 a minute and €22 per second.

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Saudi Arabia Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is also wanted by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal

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For now, Mbappe's priority seems to be Real Madrid.

And former Los Blancos boss Bernd Schuster recently expressed a belief the striker should quit PSG for the Bernabeu this summer.

“I can’t imagine Joselu becoming Real Madrid’s regular centre-forward," he said.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have always scored 30 or 40 goals a season in the last 10 years, Joselu won’t do that.

"That’s why I think Florentino Perez will sign Mbappe this summer.”

He added: “Mbappe needs to get into one of the top three leagues in Europe as soon as possible, and Real Madrid still need a striker who guarantees at least 30 goals.The disappointment at PSG is getting bigger and bigger. He is losing his golden years there. He has to leave PSG now."

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