Al-Hilal in transfer limbo as SPL rivals strengthen squads

RIYADH: It is often said in football that it is best to strengthen when you are already strong.

Al-Hilal would love to do nothing more, but just a month after winning their 18th Saudi Professional League title, the champions are stuck in transfer limbo and have yet to make any of the signings that coach Ramon Diaz wants. To make matters worse, or at least more frustrating, rivals have been getting busy.

Al-Hilal are waiting to hear if their appeal against what is in effect a double transfer window ban is successful. This punishment was handed down by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in May in regard to the Mohamed Kanno situation.

The international midfielder joined Al-Hilal in 2017 on a five-year contract. As that deal ran down last winter and he was allowed to talk to other clubs ahead of becoming a free agent, he signed a contract with bitter Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr. Shortly after, however, he had a change of heart and agreed to stay at Al-Hilal. The outcome of signing contracts with two different clubs was a fine and a ban on registering new players.

With pre-season training already starting, Al-Hilal bosses are pushing for a decision on their appeal to be made as soon as possible. If the ban is lifted, then there will be transfer activity. Until then, there is little they can do in terms of getting new players in.

The focus has been on keeping existing stars, by extending the contract for defender Jang Hyun-soo, who had been expected to return to South Korea this summer.

Getting some other players to stay may be more difficult. Al-Hilal beat off a number of European rivals for the signature of Brazilian Matheus Pereira last summer, but the playmaker has been heavily linked with a move to his homeland.