Al-Hilal are reportedly close to beating the three owned PIF clubs for the transfer of Saudi left-back Moteb Al-Harbi from Al Shabab.
This is one of the major internal transfers in the Saudi Pro League as Al Hilal reached a deal with Al Shabab worth $22.1m according to Arriyadiyah.
The Blues are also giving away Mosaab Al-Juweir on loan while right-back Mohamed Al Buryk is going to Al Shabab on a permanent deal as part of the transfer.
Al Harbi was wanted by the four PIF-owned clubs; Al Hilal, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad and Al Nassr. The transfer comes as Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus does not believe ex-Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi is good enough for the left-back position.
The Saudi left-back made himself a starter for the national team earlier this year. He started the two games in the Asian qualifiers while also winning the AFC U-23 Championship.
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Al-Hilal are yet to make a major summer signing, with all their foreign players from last season still at the club, including Renan Lodi, Michael, Neymar, Sergej Milinkovic Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Yassine Bounou, and Ruben Neves.
It’s also worth noting that their highly-rated right-back Saud Abdelhamid is set to join Italian giants AS Roma, which prompted the club to sign Al-Harbi, adding more depth to their defence.
The Saudi champions are trying to keep their squad refreshed in their bid to retain the league title and return the AFC Champions League title to Riyadh.