Former Asian Confederation and Saudi Pro League chief Hafez Al-Medlej says they're chasing a deal for Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva.

However, he hopes the expected arrival to the SPL of Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah won't happen for a couple years yet.

"We are only living the beginning," he told Koura. “All transferable footballers will from now on be targeted by Saudi clubs.

“The experience of China has nothing to do with us, theirs was purely marketing. Soccer there is not the most popular. In Arabia we have a state project and it will not be limited to four great teams, but to all of them. Because the passion for football of the Saudis has no limits.

“We do not hire players who are already finished. Al Hilal is going to sign Ruben Neves, who is 26 years old and who Barcelona wanted. And Benzema has already arrived at Al Ittihad after being crowned the Ballon d'Or with Real Madrid, who is faced with the dilemma of replacing him.

“The European Champions League is the jewel in the crown of all European championships, and this tournament is based on two elements. The first is the clubs, which are gigantic entities, and the second is the players.

“The departure of the big stars from Europe will be a hard blow for the Champions League and the tournament will lose much of its brilliance. We have an example in La Liga. They lost a lot with the transfer of Ronaldo to Juventus. And then they lost more when Messi went to Paris Saint-Germain.

“The departure of the stars from Europe will affect sponsorship and television contracts. Messi is the best footballer at the moment and his incorporation would have provided great value. But we are not going to compensate him with a substitute player.

“Let's hope that Bernardo Silva, from Manchester City, arrives. We must also start working on the signing of Mohamed Salah since he is overwhelmingly popular in the Arab world and in Europe. I think Salah still has records to break with Liverpool, so I hope that if he doesn't come now he will in the future."