Liverpool FC is facing intense pressure from the Saudi Pro League as another club targets one of its star players, Luis Díaz. The league, already known for its big spending, is determined to acquire some of the club's prized assets this summer.
It has been reported that Fabinho is on the verge of joining Al-Ittihad for a fee of $52m (£40m/€47m), while Jordan Henderson has been linked with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq. There have also been rumors linking midfielder Thiago Alcântara with a move to the league (Daily Mail).
Now, the latest player to attract interest from the Saudi Pro League is winger Díaz. Al Hilal has reportedly offered $55m (£43m/€50m) for the Colombian star.
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However, both The Times and The Athletic have confirmed that Liverpool has no intention of selling Diaz. The 26-year-old, who is set to wear the number seven shirt next season, has not expressed any desire to join Fabinho in Saudi Arabia.
The Pro League has implemented a Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence Programme (PACE) for the upcoming season. This program aims to facilitate the acquisition of foreign players through a step-by-step process that includes budget allocation, squad mapping, analysis, negotiations, transactions, and player care.
Saad Allazeez, the interim CEO of the league, explained that PACE is designed to ensure the best talent arrives in the region in an efficient and financially sound manner.
In a video released by the league's official Twitter account, Allazeez emphasized the collaborative nature of PACE between the league and the clubs. He stated: "PACE is a tool by which we make sure that the best talent comes into Saudi in the most efficient and financially sound way. PACE is a collaborative effort between the league and the clubs by which we enable the clubs to acquire the best fit-for-purpose talent for their teams."
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Allazeez added: "The biggest achievement for us in the league is to feed that passion to the fans, bringing them this success, these biggest stars, and the proven competition that they deserve to see week in, week out. This is going to be the biggest season for Saudi football ever. No question about it."
The Saudi Pro League has already attracted several Premier League and European stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kanté and Rúben Neves. Karim Benzema, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, has also made the move, joining Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid. With their ambitious approach to player acquisition and the financial resources at their disposal, the league is determined to elevate the level of competition and excitement in Saudi football.
Liverpool, however, remains resolute in their stance to retain Díaz. He has become an integral part of the team, and Jürgen Klopp continues to see him as a key player for the upcoming season.
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This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, based on a piece first written by Stephen Killen for the Liverpool ECHO. You can read the original piece by clicking here. A Liverpool.com news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to matt.addison@reachplc.com.