Romelu Lukaku has been offered a deal worth up to £20m a season by Al-Hilal, with Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez also being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at Internazionale from Chelsea, is understood to have met officials from Al-Hilal in Paris on Monday to discuss a potential move to the Saudi Pro League. The Belgium striker is thought to prefer a return to Inter at this stage, although the Italian club’s financial issues could make any permanent transfer impossible.
Inter officials are due in London this week to discuss £50m move for the Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana and a potential loan deal for Lukaku, who they sold to Chelsea in 2021 for £100m, with Kalidou Koulibaly also on their wishlist. The Senegal defender has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia less than a year after signing from Napoli for £34m.
Chelsea’s co-owner, Todd Boehly, was in Saudi Arabia last week to meet the president of Al-Hilal as he attempts to streamline their squad before an anticipated move for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
With Wilfried Zaha expected to reject an offer worth £30m a season to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr have turned their attention to Ziyech, who almost joined Paris Saint-Germain in January and made only six Premier League starts last season. Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has interest from several Saudi clubs having been told he is free to leave Stamford Bridge.
Mahrez, who has attracted interest from the Saudi side Al-Ahli, is understood to be open to leaving City despite being part of their treble-winning squad. The Algeria forward signed a two-year contract extension at the Etihad Stadium last summer and City will demand a considerable fee for the player they signed from Leicester in 2018 for £60m.
Steven Gerrard could be reunited with Philippe Coutinho at Al-Ettifaq after the former Brazil forward was offered a two-year deal. Gerrard, who signed Coutinho from Barcelona last January, has held talks over becoming the club’s manager this week.
