Saudi Pro League Clubs Aim for Top Talent in January Transfer Window After Summer Spending Spree
Saudi Pro League (SPL) clubs are gearing up for the January transfer window with a focus on securing top-tier talent to bolster their ranks, following an extravagant £784 million ($972m) summer expenditure. Michael Emenalo, SPL’s director of football, expressed confidence that their prior investments have furnished the teams with the necessary reinforcements.
As the transfer window approaches, speculation swirls around potential signings by Saudi teams, with Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane among the names in the mix. Additionally, reigning champions Al Ittihad are reportedly preparing a fresh bid for Mohamed Salah after their initial £150m offer for the Liverpool forward was turned down in September.
Emenalo, a former figure at Chelsea and AS Monaco, emphasized a shift in strategy, signaling the end of an era where Saudi clubs made multiple signings within a single window. The focus now lies on acquiring players of the “highest level” to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema in elevating the SPL’s competitiveness.
“Whatever additional improvement that we need to do for any club, with time on our hands and preparation, we believe will be additions of the highest level,” Emenalo said in an interview with the SPL.
“I’m hoping it [January] is not very busy, because I think the job that was done has been quite interesting and aggressive, and most of the clubs, I believe, have what they need. Hopefully the attention will now turn to work within the training facilities to improve these players and to allow the time to adapt and perform.
“I think we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, which was to get our foot into the market and compete aggressively. But, also, we wanted to do that while giving every single club in the league an opportunity to improve. I believe we accomplished that.
“And I believe that, what you’re seeing, in terms of the quality of the games and the performance of most of the acquired international players, is a vindication that the transfer market has been relatively well. And we hope that we will continue to perfect our process in the future.”
In a dynamic transfer season marked by significant acquisitions, Saudi Pro League (SPL) clubs successfully attracted renowned football stars like Jordan Henderson, N’golo Kanté, and Roberto Firmino, enticing them away from the Premier League with lucrative salaries. This influx of top-tier talent, including recent arrivals Ronaldo, Neymar, and Benzema, within the past year, has transformed the SPL landscape.
Emenalo, outlining Saudi Arabia’s vision, highlighted a strategic shift in focus. With the imminent prospect of hosting the 2034 Men’s World Cup, the overarching plan now centers on utilizing these marquee names to foster the development of local, homegrown talent within the country. This move signifies a deliberate pivot towards nurturing domestic players alongside the influx of international football stars.
“We know we are attracting world-class players now; we know we have attracted local players who are interested in reaching incredible standards for their clubs and for the national team,” he said.
“And for them to do that, for them to be developed in the right way, the amenities and the infrastructures must be at the highest level.
“We’ve seen in places like England: that sudden infusion of world-class players in the league has led to the development of local, world class players, and I think that’s what is going to happen here.
“But you have to grow these players, and when you use the word ‘grow’ or ‘develop’, it means you have to look at the academies, you have to look at the younger ages. That’s where the development of the process starts.
“I’ve always explained, privately and publicly, that top-level footballers are incredible and unique artists, and what they can do, you can only dream of until you try to do it, when you realise how difficult it is. Those guys are exceptional artists, and the artists as time goes on will be greatly appreciated and copied by youngsters in the country and that will be for the good of everyone.”
Follow us on all social media platform, @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
