Al-Hilal have suffered a huge blow in their race for a midfield target as there has been a significant update around the future of Marco Verratti.
The Paris Saint Germain midfielder has been linked with the Saudi side all summer, although it seemed Al-Ahli could well be ready to hijack any potential deal agreed with Al-Hilal.
However, it has now emerged that another side are firmly ahead of the competition in the race to sign the former Pescara midfielder.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Qatari side Al-Arabi are on the verge of reaching an agreement with PSG for the signing of the diminutive Italian midfielder.
Romano claims that negotiations are at a very advanced stage between the two clubs for the 30-year-old and the midfielder now looks set to make the move to the Qatari side.
Al-Hilal negotiations broke down
It seemed for all the world that Verratti was set to link up with former PSG teammate Neymar in Saudi Arabia but it now seems that possibility has ended.
The Saudi side seemed the most likely candidate to be able to complete a deal for the Italian.
The deal for the midfielder collapsed, however, when it emerged that PSG had rejected two offers for the Italian midfielder as the gap in valuation was too big, so the deal was off, according to Romano.
It is unclear how much the Qatari side will sign the midfielder for but, you would imagine, that it would cost a pretty penny for the deal to be on the verge of completion.
The Saudi side may well have to switch their attention to different midfield targets.
Jesus’ side have already signed Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic Savic, so if they were unable to fund the signing of another midfielder this summer, then they would already have top-class midfield options in their ranks.