Al Ittihad head into Saturday's home clash with Al Nassr carrying real uncertainty, both on the pitch and in the transfer market, as the club tries to resolve a squad gap that has been open since Moussa Diaby's permanent return to Bayer Leverkusen for 30 million euros.

Four games into the Saudi Pro League season, the club sit eighth with eight points, a position that reflects an inconsistent start. A narrow 1-0 win over Al Qadisiyah was followed by a goalless draw with Al Fateh, results that point to a team still finding its rhythm under coach Jens Weisig. The arrival of Colombian midfielder Richard Rios on loan from Benfica has offered some encouragement, though questions remain over whether he will be fit to feature against Al Nassr.

The more pressing concern is the right wing position. Al Ittihad raised their bid for Feyenoord's Anis Hadj Moussa to 37.5 million euros after an opening offer of 30 million was rejected, but Feyenoord's technical director Devi Rijo has publicly stated he does not intend to sell, citing the closed Dutch transfer window as a barrier to finding a replacement. The club has also explored Sunderland's Chamseddine Talbi, though that option has been described as unavailable. Other names including Yasir Asprilla of Girona and Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda have been mentioned as fallback options, with the Saudi window closing on September 6.

Steven Bergwijn leads Al Ittihad's scoring with three goals this season, but the squad needs width and creativity. Saturday's derby against Al Nassr, who are pushing for the league summit, will tell the club plenty about where they really stand.