West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals has emerged as a potential target for the Saudi Pro League, the Telegraph reports.
An unnamed Saudi Arabian club has inquired about the conditions required to strike a deal for the Spanish midfielder.
They could launch an official proposal for the versatile 27-year-old before their transfer window deadline on September 7.
Fornals has been on West Ham’s payroll since 2019, when he arrived from Villarreal in a £24 million deal.
He has been a faithful servant for the Hammers and a player held in high regard by manager David Moyes, who will undoubtedly be reluctant to sanction his exit this summer.
He has one year left on his contract with West Ham, but the Hammers retain an option to extend his stay at London Stadium until 2025.
Fornals, who has won six caps for the Spanish national team, has featured 140 times for the Hammers over the last four years, contributing 16 goals and 14 assists.
With Moyes’ side now well stocked in the middle of the park following the arrivals of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Mohammed Kudus, Fornals could find playing time hard to come by.
The Spaniard made 50 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing seven goals and two assists – although he started 25 times.
He made the starting line-up in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on the opening weekend this season but was on the bench in the subsequent victories over Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion.
West Ham will need all the depth they can muster this season, with the club competing in four competitions, so it remains to be seen if Moyes will sanction another first-team departure.
However, Fornals’ departure could clear a pathway for Jesse Lingard to return to the club on a short-term contract after putting in an impressive shift in training.
Michail Antonio is also attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Ettifaq eyeing a move for the Jamaican striker.
