Al Hilal
Al Hilal close in on Summerville as Premier League suitors are left behind
Al Hilal are close to a $90 million deal for Summerville, leaving United and Chelsea behind.
The summer chase for Crysencio Summerville has taken a sharp turn away from England. Manchester United and Chelsea were among the clubs linked with the Dutch winger, but Al Hilal have moved into pole position with what has been described as an agreement worth around $90 million.
The Athletic reported the deal, though a medical still has to be completed before an official announcement can follow. Corriere dello Sport’s Eleonora Trotta said Summerville has been offered a four-year contract, with annual pay in the region of $13.7-17.1 million. Roma had also shown interest, with a bid around $56 million threatening to complicate the picture, while their own offer was thought to be $4.6 million.
Summerville’s stock remains high despite West Ham United’s relegation. The Dutch international still delivered a strong individual return, finishing with seven goals and five assists. That output helped secure him a place in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, where he contributed to four goals in four matches.
For Al Hilal, this would amount to a notable statement. The Saudi Pro League club have not spent this heavily on one player since they paid more than $100 million for Neymar Jr. in 2023. It is also another reminder of the division’s power in the market, where Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané already feature among the headline names.
The move leaves Manchester United and Chelsea to reconsider their plans. United may already have a solution for the left wing, even if the hierarchy is not entirely convinced. After Marcus Rashford’s buyout clause expired, the academy graduate is set to return to Old Trafford, at least for preseason following his post-World Cup hiatus.
Rashford impressed during last season’s loan spell at Barcelona, but Hansi Flick preferred Anthony Gordon because of concerns over his work rate off the ball. Even so, United’s more reactive approach under the promoted interim coach could suit him, with less need to press high.
Al Hilal
Salah to Leave Liverpool as Juventus Deny Talks; Saudi Interest Looms Large
Juventus say no contact over Mohamed Salah as Saudi clubs and PSG surge as likely destinations. news
Mohamed Salah’s time at Liverpool is confirmed to be ending and questions are growing about where he will move next. Juventus’s sporting director Marco Ottolini moved to quash one persistent line of speculation, telling 365scores: “What is being circulated about negotiations to sign Mohamed Salah to Juventus is not true. At the moment, there is nothing regarding that.”
Ottolini also stressed there is not currently any contact between Juventus and Salah, though he did not rule out the possibility of future approaches. The comments make clear that any immediate shift to Juventus is unlikely, even if the club’s history of securing elite names on free transfers still attracts attention. The club has previously signed big names on free transfers, including Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Kingsley Coman, Sami Khedira, Emre Can and Adrien Rabiot.
That record of bargains sits against a sporting backdrop in which Juventus have not been genuine title contenders for several seasons, a reality that could lessen their appeal to an elite forward weighing his next move.
The strongest links for Salah centre on the Saudi Pro League. The competition has openly pursued Salah over recent seasons and came close last season before Liverpool secured an extension. With his contract situation changing, clubs such as Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah are expected to present offers that would include wages not typically available at European clubs.
Paris Saint-Germain have also been named among potential suitors, described as a surprise given their current emphasis on younger recruitment. There have been additional rumours of interest from Galatasaray in Türkiye. For now, Juventus insist there is nothing in the reports linking them to Salah, while Saudi and other European clubs remain the likeliest destinations as his Liverpool career draws to a close.
Al Hilal
Darwin Núñez: Liverpool’s expensive gamble and exile at Al Hilal
From an £85m Liverpool move to exclusion at Al Hilal, Núñez’s career has been unsettled. In decline.
Darwin Núñez’s career has been defined by extremes. Beginnings in his homeland and an eye-catching spell at Almeria, where he scored 16 goals, led to a move to Benfica. Forty-eight strikes across two seasons in Portugal convinced Liverpool to pay an £85 million fee, including add-ons (£105 million at the time in dollar terms).
His arrival in April 2022 followed goals in both legs against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final, moments that helped persuade Jürgen Klopp to press for the signing. Early signs at Anfield were promising: a goal in the Community Shield against Manchester City and a goal and an assist on his first Premier League outing raised expectations.
But inconsistency arrived quickly. An impetuous headbutt against Crystal Palace on his first competitive Anfield appearance earned a straight red card. A debut season of 15 goals was often overshadowed by glaring misses. A better second campaign produced 18 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, yet opinion remained divided.
Language difficulties and questions over his ball-striking technique were noted factors in his adaptation. Power was often prioritised over finesse. Those recurring concerns, combined with a tame seven-goal return in his final season and the arrival of a different tactical approach under Arne Slot, ultimately cost him his place at Liverpool.
Liverpool recouped £46 million when Núñez moved to Al Hilal. Expectations of a revival in the Saudi Pro League have not been met. He managed seven strikes in 23 appearances across all competitions in his first half-season in the Middle East. Al Hilal have been unbeaten and lead the standings, but Núñez has been removed from the club’s squad list for league matches for the remainder of the campaign.
The arrival of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad has displaced Núñez. To accommodate Benzema within Saudi Pro League registration rules regarding foreign players, Núñez was removed and can play just five more league games this term, though he remains eligible to feature in the AFC Champions League. With limited immediate options, a move looks more likely in the summer.
Al Hilal
January window spenders: who spent big and how the market moved
January window: English clubs led the spending as Saudi and Brazil injected late-market drama. more.
The January window settled into a narrative of concentrated spending and late-market drama. English clubs combined to outspend the rest of the continent, their £390 million ($530 million) outlay dwarfing other top divisions. Meanwhile the Saudi market and Brazil’s strengthened finances injected headline moves.
Lazio were unusually active despite a prior transfer ban. The Romans replaced Taty Castellanos and Mattéo Guendouzi, who moved to West Ham United and Fenerbahçe respectively, by signing Ajax’s Kenneth Taylor for just shy of €17 million ($32 million) and adding young centre forward Petar Rakov. The fees recouped left Lazio with a net spend of -€23 million (-$27 million).
Fenerbahçe’s window pivoted around Guendouzi (€28 million) and the late acquisition of N’Golo Kanté on a free after his return from Saudi Arabia. The club banked on established midfield reinvention to challenge Galatasaray at the top.
Bournemouth again invested in youth, paying €28.5 million ($33.7 million) for Vasco de Gama prospect Rayan and also signing Golden Boy nominee Alex Tóth. Tottenham’s January activity saw Conor Gallagher arrive alongside Brazilian left back João Souza, though many supporters felt more reinforcements were needed. Sporting director Johan Lange asserted after the window that it was important the club remained disciplined amid potential temptations.
West Ham strengthened early, paying a combined €52 million ($61 million) for Castellanos and Gil Vicente’s Pablo to reshape their attack. They also added Adama Traoré for a small fee and brought in Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea.
Atlético Madrid spent late, bringing in Ademola Lookman from Atalanta for €35 million ($41 million) and signing Elche prospect Rodrigo Mendoza as a potential long-term addition after Giacomo Raspadori’s exit.
Flamengo flexed improved finances following a strong Club World Cup showing, reporting club-record revenue of €249 million ($294 million) for the first three quarters of 2025 and setting a Brazilian transfer record by paying €41 million ($48 million) to re-sign Lucas Paquetá from West Ham.
In Saudi Arabia Karim Benzema’s move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal coincided with Al Hilal leading Al Nassr in the title race. Cristiano Ronaldo’s fallout is believed linked to that switch; Ronaldo has gone on strike while Benzema scored a hat-trick on debut. Al Hilal also extended Rúben Neves and added Mohamed Kader Meïté, with the club labelled the “Real Madrid of Asia” by Benzema.
