Saudi Professional League runners-up Al Hilal are close to securing a permanent €8.3 million deal for loan star Andre Carrillo, according to reports.
Carrillo, 28, notched six assists and three goals in 21 top-flight appearances upon arrival from Portugal’s Benfica. The Crescent have been locked in negotiations since to secure the ex-Watford loanee’s full-time signature and a breakthrough has been made.
A Bola stated that a fee has been agreed for 70 per cent of the Peru winger’s rights and president Fahad bin Nafil Alotaibi is in Lisbon tying up the final details. Hilal had pressed for another temporary arrangement, but this was blocked.
Riyadh rivals and reigning SPL champions Al Nassr had also been linked with him.
A $2.8m transfer was secured earlier this month by Hilal for FC Tokyo centre-back Jang Hyun-soo. The ex-South Korea international should replace Australia’s Milos Degenek as the Asian-designated player in the seven-person foreign quota for 2019/20.
Elsewhere, “large” financial demands from fit-again UAE superstar Omar Abdulrahman have caused talks about a new contract to be shelved.
Abdulrahman, 27, was expected to re-sign for the Crescent after fitness tests in Dubai last week proved his complete recovery from October’s serious knee injury. A statement from the club, however, detail exorbitant requests from the playmaker’s camp and a failure to respond to a 24-hour deadline.
This breakdown ensured discussions were hastily broken off with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club about the sale of Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo.
