Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes among 50 stars targeted in Premier League and European transfer purge by Saudis

Saudi dealmakers are targeting 50 peak-age foreign signings this summer with major movement expected following the 2026 World Cup, talkSPORT understands.

A handful of older stars are also on the shortlist for an approach from the Middle East ahead of this summer.

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Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Vinicius Junior, and Robert Lewandowski are among the leading targets.

Saudi Pro League officials made an exploratory enquiry for Salah following his revelation after the draw with Leeds in December that his relationship with Arne Slot was broken.

Liverpool have no plans to sell Salah this winter and three Saudi clubs – Al Hilal, NEOM FC and Al Qadsiah – have all been made aware.

Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo has a long-standing relationship with Salah and will be one of the driving forces on the timing behind any formal move, even though interested clubs can, and have to date, made direct approaches to the Salah camp.

Liverpool insist they want Salah to see out his contract until summer 2027, but a 2026 departure could nonetheless suit all parties, especially if the Anfield club add a right-sided attacker.

Al Ittihad saw a £150m offer for Salah rejected in summer 2023 and could also reignite their interest in the Egyptian.

Although no new approach has been made yet, the potential departures of N’Golo Kante, Fabinho and Karim Benzema could lead to a significant revamp this summer.

Former Chelsea midfielder Kante is the subject of an offer from Fenerbahce to leave this winter, but Al Ittihad are reluctant to sanction a mid-season exit even though the French midfielder is a free agent at the end of the season.

Back in for Bruno

Al Ittihad are also one of three clubs considering a move for Manchester United captain Fernandes.

The Jeddah-based side made contact with Fernandes over the summer, as did Al Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. Fernandes has a €60m release clause valid for non-Premier League clubs.

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Man United sources insist they want to keep Fernandes and he remains part of their long-term plans.

But the Portugal international told Canal 11 in December he felt ‘hurt’ because his sense was that the club wanted to sell him to Saudi.

Fernandes had agreed terms of around £700k per week before deciding the timing of a potential switch to Saudi Arabia wasn’t right in both football and family terms.

Saudi dealmakers have not given up on signing Fernandes this summer and dialogue remains open despite sources close to the player stressing no decision will be taken until after the World Cup.

Saudi Pro League recruiters have also not been put off by reports Fernandes will prioritise staying in Europe.

Brand new free agent

Casemiro is a long-standing target dating back to summer 2023 and will be a free agent at the end of the season after confirming on Thursday that he will leave Man United.

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talkSPORT understands the Red Devils made the decision not to trigger a one-year option or offer a new contract to the Brazilian on reduced terms.

Al Qadsiah, managed by Brendan Rodgers, and Al Ittihad have both expressed an interest.

However, most Saudi Pro League clubs have been reluctant in the past to match Casemiro’s wage demands, given he turns 34 years old next season.

A strategic shift has taken place within Saudi with clubs encouraged to use central funds of up to €2billion per season on younger players.

The money is allocated to clubs based on an assessment of their needs and is not split equally. It must be used on transfer fees, agent commissions and wages.

The big-money signings of older players tend to be ones who will bring in new audiences, or in the case of Fernandes, retain the Portuguese market.

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Post-Ronaldo plans

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to leave Al Nassr in the summer of 2027 and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could potentially retire from football.

And even if he extended by a further year, plans are being put in place to try and prevent a sharp decline in global interest when the ex-United attacker eventually departs the Saudi Pro League.

One other idea is to keep Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia as an owner, increasing the 15 per cent equity stake he currently has in Al Nassr.

Saudi Arabia’s other targets

Several other Premier League names are also under consideration by Saudi clubs, including Aston Villa pair Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana and Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.

Al Nassr are viewed as a genuine contender for Martinelli, with Arsenal open to a sale knowing Andrea Berta is exploring a new starting left-winger for 2026/27.

Martinelli was not interested in a move to Saudi last summer and it remains to be seen whether he will change his mind after the 2026 World Cup.

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Outside of the Premier League, the highest-profile target is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

Al Ahli are expected to be given significant central funding to try and pull off a deal if given encouragement by the Brazil international.

Vini Jr put contract talks on hold with Real due to a breakdown in relationship with former coach Xabi Alonso. Yet Real are now hoping Alonso’s departure allows him to put pen to paper on fresh terms.

Conversations between Vini Jr’s agency, Roc Nation Sports, and senior Saudi officials are ongoing and date back over a year.

Although publicly he continues to affirm his Real commitment, talkSPORT has learned that Saudi has been given some private encouragement that a transfer is possible at some point down the line.

Vini Jr has been offered a five-year contract worth at least €1bn, while Real suddenly have urgency to secure an extension or consider a sale, given the 25-year-old will only have a year left on his current deal by the end of the season.

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Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski also has concrete Saudi and MLS options.

The 37-year-old has been clear to suitors that he wants to focus on Barca, and for his part hasn’t ruled out a new extension with the club.

Yet as it stands, Lewandowski is a free agent at the end of the season and Barca are actively exploring new forwards with both Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Levante’s Etta Eyong on their radar.

Chicago FC are one MLS side credited with an interest in Lewandowski, while Saudi sides Al Ittihad and Al Shabab are monitoring the situation.

And Diriyah FC could also be a club to watch, but any approach is contingent on their promotion to the Saudi Pro League. Former Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman is running Diriyah’s recruitment.

It is impossible, as it stands, for Diriyah to make meaningful contact with Lewandowski while they remain in the Saudi second tier, but well-placed Saudi sources have made it clear considerable budget will be given to Diriyah if they reach the Saudi Pro League due to the importance of the project, which extends far beyond just football.

talkSPORT can also reveal that several Saudi clubs are also going through a new phase of privatisation, and in the long-term, all four PIF-controlled clubs – Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli – are expected to have new owners.

Sources have told talkSPORT the PIF ownership in 2023 was only ever meant to be a medium-term solution and Al Hilal is expected to be the first club of the four sold to a new private investor with the Saudi Ministry of Sport currently working on the change of ownership.