Yahoo Sports Al-Ittihad open talks to sign Premier League duo
Al-Ittihad have opened talks to sign Manchester United midfielder Casemiro and Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby.
The Saudi Pro League side are stepping up their efforts to strengthen this summer after a disappointing domestic campaign.
Domestic champions heading into 2023, Al-Ittihad ended the campaign in fifth despite the arrivals of names including Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N’Golo Kante.
Saudi sides are expected to be less expansive in the transfer market this summer but Al-Ittihad are eyeing Premier League names as part of their recruitment drive.
L’Equipe are reporting the Saudi side are in talks to sign Casemiro, who is free to leave Manchester United.
The 32-year-old impressed after his £70m arrival from Real Madrid in 2022, but endured a downturn in performances last season. United are open to the sale of the Brazilian and have been linked with PSG’s Manuel Ugarte as a more youthful replacement.
There is also interest from Al-Ittihad in Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman joined Aston Villa in a £55m club-record deal from Bayer Leverkusen last summer and provided 14 goals and assists in the Premier League in 2023-24.
However, the winger struggled for consistency over the second half of the campaign and was in and out of Unai Emery’s team.
Al-Ittihad have appointed former France manager Laurent Blanc as their new head coach and are closing in on the signing of Houssem Aouar from AS Roma, with a deal described as ‘very close’. There is also interest from the nine-time Saudi champions in PSG captain Marquinhos.
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