Al Ahli Eyes Pape Gueye with €40 Million Price Tag

Al Ahli Saudi Club has intensified its interest in bolstering the midfield, placing Senegalese Pape Gueye, a Villarreal player, on its radar during the summer transfer window in preparation for the new season. French newspaper 'L'Équipe' reported that Al Ahli is monitoring the situation of the Senegalese midfielder but has yet to submit an official offer to Villarreal's management. The club's management is looking to open negotiation channels with the Spanish club in the coming period to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement that would bring Gueye to the Saudi Pro League. Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper 'Marca' revealed that Villarreal has set a price of €40 million for the player, as the club is keen on receiving a suitable financial return. Gueye is under contract with Villarreal, which gives the Spanish club a strong position in the negotiations, especially with the management's desire to achieve significant financial benefits in the event of the player's departure. Al Ahli's move comes as part of a plan to reshape the midfield, with Gueye's name emerging as a candidate to replace Ivorian Frank Kessié, whose contract with the team ends at the end of this summer. The Senegalese midfielder has diverse European experiences, having previously played for Olympique Marseille, Sevilla, and Le Havre before moving to Villarreal and continuing his journey in La Liga. Throughout his professional career, Gueye has participated in 287 matches across various competitions, managing to score 18 goals and provide 10 assists, making him one of the options considered to strengthen Al Ahli's midfield. The next anticipated step is for Al Ahli to officially approach Villarreal, as negotiations will reveal the ability of both parties to bridge the gap between the Spanish club's financial demands and Al Ahli's desire to finalize the deal.