Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino could be set to leave Al Ahli as the club aim to sign Porto’s Galeno.
The Saudi club cannot complete the move as they have filled their foreign player quota, and must shift one of their overseas stars out to make it happen.
Saudi Pro League clubs are restricted to having ten foreign players in their squads, with eight permitted to be used per matchday.
Foreigners in the Al Ahli squad include Edouard Mendy, Roger Ibanez, Merih Demiral, Matteo Dams, Ezgjan Allioski, Alexsander, Gabri Veiga, Franck Kessie, Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney.
Galeno has been authorised by Porto to undergo a medical with the Saudi side, but the deal has been complicated by the foreign player rule.
The move has been verbally agreed but it is now at risk of collapsing as it did last summer.
Despite being a regular starter and captain for Al Ahli, Firmino could make way for his fellow Brazilian.
It comes just 18 months after moving to Middle East from Liverpool in 2023 on a free transfer. He reportedly earns €365,000-a-week and is the team’s third highest earner behind Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney.
This season he has appeared 24 times, managing eight goals and four assists.
Before the opening of the winter transfer window it was reported Al Ahli were looking to offload the 33-year-old and bring in a left winger alongside a holding midfielder.
A move which manager Matthias Jaissle hopes will give him the tools to improve on their fifth-place position in the table.
Jose Mourinho’s side Fenerbahce are reportedly interested in Firminho as they trail first place Galatasaray by six points.
Saudi club Al Tauwoun are also circling the player with a potential loan deal.
Firmino could be the second former Red to return to Europe from Saudi Arabia as Jordon Henderson did. He now plays for Ajax after his stint at Al-Ettifaq.
The Brazilian made 362 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, scoring 111 times after signing from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in 2015.
He formed part of one of the Premier League’s most fearsome three-pronged attacks alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Firmino played a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph over Tottenham in 2019, Premier League title success in 2020 and FA Cup, Carabao Cup and FIFA Club World Cup wins.
