The Saudi club Al-Ittihad has begun steps to strengthen its defense line by signing a foreign defender during the current winter transfer market, in preparation for the elite Asian Champions League competitions.

The "Al-Riyadiyah" newspaper reported that the Al-Ittihad management is considering three options: Ivorian Eric Bailly, defender for Spanish club Oviedo; Uruguayan Alexis Duarte, player for Brazilian club Santos; and Congolese Chancel Mbemba, defender for French club Lille.

The club aims, through signing one of these players, to strengthen the squad in preparation for the AFC Champions League and to ensure the team's readiness to face strong opponents in the tournament.

Al-Ittihad is in sixth place in Group B of the AFC Champions League for the elite, with 9 points, equal to the number of losses, which increases the need to strengthen the defense line.

Yesterday, Al-Amid defeated Al-Najma with a clean goal in the twentieth round of the Saudi Professional League, giving them a morale boost before finalizing winter transfers.

The management of the club seeks to take advantage of the winter transfer window to strengthen the team with a foreign player capable of enhancing the defensive performance during the upcoming Asian championship.