Al Hilal club management took calculated steps, having set a backup option in case the ongoing negotiations to sign Murad Hawsawi, the midfielder from Al Khaleej, fail during the current winter transfer window.

Al Hilal has previously entered into communications with the Al Khaleej management in an attempt to finalize the deal for Murad Hawsawi, aiming to strengthen the midfield according to the vision of Italian coach Simone Inzaghi.

Al Hilal officials refuse to engage in any financial bidding wars, especially since the player is attracting interest from rival clubs, most notably Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, according to recent media reports.

The newspaper "Asharq Al-Awsat" revealed that Al-Hilal's management has listed Naif Masoud, the midfielder of Al-Fateh, as an alternative option in case negotiations with Hawsawi fail.

The newspaper clarified that Al Hilal's moves regarding Naif Masoud have so far been limited to verbal and preliminary inquiries, without submitting an official offer to Al Fateh club's management.

Al Hilal continues to prioritize finalizing the deal for Murad Hawsawi, while simultaneously preparing a potential alternative as part of a plan to strengthen the midfield with a promising local player.

Naif Masoud is 24 years old and joined Al-Fateh in the summer of 2023. He has participated in 11 matches with the Al-Fateh team during the current season.