Saudi Pro League clubs expect to be busy in the January transfer window. And that will also ensure the Premier League transfer window could see a dramatic rise in spending this month. Incredibly, Prem clubs only spent £100m last January and the general feeling among agents this year was that it could be another relatively quiet window.
But that has changed in the past few weeks and clubs, players and their representatives are already expecting a raft of big-money moves this month. That will also include the Saudi Pro League with the mega-rich competition’s window open from January 1 to January 30.
One of their key messages is to “attract elite talent” and they have already seen big-money overtures for Manchester United ’s out-of-favour Marcus Rashford get rebuffed. Rashford has already publicly admitted that he “wants a new challenge” and could have doubled his money in Saudi with a money-spinning deal.
However, that is unlikely to stop Saudi Pro League clubs moving for other Premier League stars, having made a game-changing signing in England international Ivan Toney last summer. They have also boasted that the average of signings has dropped from 27.6 years to 26.2 years which shows that they are in the market for younger players rather than ageing stars looking for one last pay day.
But that is also mirrored by a host of Premier League clubs looking to do business this month. Arsenal, United and Tottenham are all on the lookout for deals this month. Arsenal are in the market for a winger while United boss Ruben Amorim wants to use the window to get players in and out.
