Saudi threat to Fenerbahce's Greenwood transfer

An unexpected threat has emerged in the Mason Greenwood operation, the biggest move of Fenerbahce's summer transfer window. As relayed by Ben Jacobs, Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli stepped in today to derail the English star's transfer to Fenerbahce. Exchanges are reported to have taken place between the Saudi club and the player's camp, with Greenwood also holding a conversation with head coach Matthias Jaissle.

On the Turkish side, an agreement is in fact in place. According to Turkish media, Fenerbahce reached a deal with Marseille worth €39.5 million plus a €5 million title bonus, with an annual salary of around €10 million earmarked for the player. However, with the transfer yet to become official, the Saudis' last-minute move carries the potential to drag the process back into uncertainty.

Al-Ahli's timing, meanwhile, is no coincidence. The club parted ways with star winger Riyad Mahrez on Saturday, terminating his contract, and are searching for a big name for their attack. The Saudi side are also reported to be in advanced talks worth up to €45 million for Sporting's Portuguese star Francisco Trincão in the same period.

On the other hand, Greenwood's past stance is encouraging for Fenerbahce. The English star rejected attractive offers from Al-Ahli, Al-Qadsiah and Al-Diriyah at the end of June, making clear his desire to continue his career in a European-based project. The final decision of the 24-year-old, who became one of Ligue 1's most productive attackers with 48 goals and 17 assists in 81 matches across two seasons at Marseille, will determine the fate of this huge transfer.

Source: Ben Jacobs
Image: Yahoo Sports