Aston Villa are poised to make a profit on winger Moussa Diaby, with Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad emerging as a serious suitor, according to The Athletic.
The France international only joined Villa last summer for a club-record £52 million but is attracting interest from the Middle East again.
Diaby rejected a move to Saudi Arabia last year, opting to sign for the Premier League side.
However, Al Ittihad appear determined to land their man and are prepared to offer Villa a substantial profit on their initial investment.
The Jeddah-based club is looking to bolster their squad after a disappointing season that saw them finish in fifth place on the pyramid, 42 points behind rivals Al Hilal.
Al Ittihad have hired a new coach (Laurent Blanc) and are close to securing Houssem Aouar. They now have their eyes on the Villa wideman.
Diaby’s impressive performances for Villa have caught their eye. He played a key role in securing Champions League qualification, notching six goals and eight assists (12 big chances created) in 38 Premier League appearances.
He recorded ten goals and nine assists in 54 appearances across all competitions.
His performances were crucial for Unai Emery’s side, and Villa will no doubt be looking to secure a massive fee.
With Villa now competing in the Champions League, the financial windfall from a potential Diaby sale could prove valuable in strengthening other areas of the squad. Whether Diaby is tempted by a move to the Saudi Pro League remains to be seen.
Interestingly, Al Ittihad could face competition from Al Nassr for his signature. Al Nassr were credited with an interest in the former Bayer Leverkusen star weeks ago and could re-enter the race.
Emery will be reluctant to lose such a pivotal player despite re-signing former attacker Jaden Philogene. Diaby’s loss would be massive for Villa, who are looking to compete on multiple fronts next season.
