OUSMANE DEMBELE is reportedly a shock target for Saudi Pro League clubs this summer.
The PSG forward is on a high after lifting the 2025 Champions League and being named Ballon d’Or winner in the space of a few months.
The France international has become one of the best players in the world during his time with PSG after scoring 35 goals last season.
And Sky Sports are now reporting that Saudi chiefs are plotting an ambitious move to lure Dembele to the Middle East this summer.
Officials are “laying the groundwork” for a mega transfer that would see him join superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kingsley Coman, Darwin Nunez and Ruben Neves.
However, Saudi chiefs should brace for resistance from PSG, who are already preparing a long-term new contract offer for Dembele, it says.
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Dembele is said to earn around £15million per year at PSG, but Saudi clubs would be able to make him one of the highest earners in the division.
Ronaldo is currently the best paid star, with Al-Nassr giving him a basic salary of £488,000-a-DAY.
If Dembele did move, it would not be the first time Saudi chiefs have managed to lure an active Ballon d’Or winner to the Middle East.
Karim Benzema won the 2022 award after an incredible year with Real Madrid before joining Al-Ittihad the following summer.
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The Frenchman has since played 87 times for the club, scoring 57 times.
The Saudi Pro League has also targeted a number of other high-profile stars in recent years.
Last summer, Al-Hilal had prepared a £100m offer to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
They would have been willing to treble his £250,000-a-week salary at Old Trafford.
But after holding talks with the club, Fernandes turned down the offer because he wanted to continue playing at the highest level.
Al-Hilal have also chased Liverpool star Mo Salah and were strongly linked with his signature last year before he ended up signing a new deal at Anfield.
However, Sky Sports have reported that Salah remains a target for the league after his bombshell interview last year, claiming Liverpool had “thrown him under the bus”.
Al-Ittihad are another club that have been linked with a swoop for Salah, who returned to the Liverpool side last week for the 3-0 win over Marseille after cooling his row with Arne Slot.
