Transfer News 4/1: Ronaldo tries to lure Rudiger to Al Nassr, Barca welcomes Egyptian new signing.
Al Nassr plans to sign center-back Antonio Rudiger at Ronaldo's request, while Barcelona has finalized a deal to sign young striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
The winter transfer market is witnessing unexpected moves from major clubs. The spotlight is on Al Nassr, with their ambition to acquire center-back Antonio Rüdiger, and Barcelona's plan to rejuvenate their squad with a promising talent from Egypt.
Al Nassr is ambitious to recruit Antonio Rudiger.
Antonio Rüdiger's future at Real Madrid is becoming uncertain as his contract expires in June. At 32, the German defender is still in top form, however, Real Madrid's strict contract renewal policy for players over 30 is causing negotiations to stall.
According to sources from Fichajes, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the most likely destination for Rüdiger. Al Nassr is reportedly preparing an extremely attractive financial offer to persuade the German star. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo himself directly recommended Rüdiger to the club's management to strengthen the defense with a seasoned player with extensive European experience.
Barcelona have finalized the signing of striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
In an effort to build a foundation for the future, Barcelona have reached a comprehensive agreement with Al Ahly to sign Hamza Abdelkarim. The 18-year-old forward will join Camp Nou on loan until the end of the season and begin playing for the Barca Atlètic youth team.
The agreement includes a buyout clause worth €1.5 million next summer. In addition, Al Ahly will also receive 15% of any future transfer fee if Barcelona sells the player. This is seen as a long-term investment project by the Catalan club to discover raw talent from new markets.
Fierce competition in the Premier League
In England, Manchester United and Tottenham are both vying for the signature of Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace. The French striker is in consistent form with 8 goals in 19 appearances. However, Crystal Palace have stated they will not let their key player leave easily during this transfer window.
In addition, Chelsea are also targeting Othmane Maamma of Watford. The 20-year-old Moroccan player currently plays in the EFL Championship and has scored 3 goals in 12 matches. The price for Chelsea to acquire this talent is around £8.7 million, with Bournemouth also closely following the deal.
Rodrygo is facing the possibility of leaving Real Madrid.
In other news, AS reports that winger Rodrygo is considering leaving Real Madrid in January. The Brazilian star is having a difficult season in La Liga with a low scoring rate, only one goal and one assist in 16 appearances. His decline in form has meant Rodrygo is no longer an indispensable part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad.
