Mohamed Salah and Jadon Sancho next? Saudi Pro League chief offers transfer update as clubs target 'additions of the highest level'

According to FIFA, Saudi Arabian clubs invested £701 million on foreign talent acquisition in the summer. If Saudi teams' offers for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe had been approved, that amount may have been far higher. The Player Acquisition Centre for Excellence (PACE) and director of football for the Saudi league, Michael Emenalo, acknowledged that the league had "competed aggressively" during the summer transfer window and that the emphasis was now on high-calibre additions to the summer signings.

As the January transfer window approaches, Saudi teams have already been linked with moves for Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho of Manchester United. Champions Al-Ittihad are also anticipated to make another attempt at acquiring Mohamed Salah, having had their September £150 million bid for the Liverpool forward rejected.

"I’m hoping (the January transfer window) 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,” the former Chelsea technical director told the SPL. "And 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.

"Now, 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. We will continue to support and to see every opportunity we have to bring more talented individuals that want to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is open for business."

As Emenalo reiterated, it is now unlikely that the league will attract any top talents in the winter transfer window but will keep looking to make additions to improve the quality of the league.