Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab are not thought to be advancing with a deal to sign free agent goalkeeper David de Gea, 90min understands.
The Spaniard is still without a club after leaving Manchester United last summer and has taken time to mull over his next move.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich considered offering him a contract last summer in their pursuit of backup goalkeepers, but they eventually pursued other targets instead. Newcastle United were linked with De Gea too after Nick Pope picked up a significant shoulder injury over the winter, but they have kept their powder dry during the January transfer window and persisted with Martin Dubravka between the sticks.
Reports in the last week have suggested De Gea has held talks with Al Shabab over a move to Saudi Arabia, but sources have told 90min he is unlikely to join them in the near future.
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Al Shabab are currently well-stocked in the goalkeeper department, with South Korea international Kim Seung-gyu and Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Al-Qarni already on their books.
Instead, Al Shabab – who were largely unable to join in on the Saudi Pro League’s summer 2023 spending spree due to board upheaval at the time – have been working on deals to sign marquee outfield players.
They had been hopeful of finalising a deal in excess of €30m to sign Miguel Almiron from Newcastle United but that looks like a tricky transfer to get over the line in the next few hours.
A striker is also high on their wish-list with Senegal’s Habib Diallo potentially on his way back to Europe despite only joining from Strasbourg last summer – Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata is their ideal candidate and they have already done business with the Spanish side having brought in Yannick Carrasco.
In the long-term, Al Shabab would love to appoint Jose Mourinho as manager, but he is still considering his future after being sacked by Roma earlier in January.
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