An Aston Villa winger is reportedly in talks over a £60million move to the Saudi Pro League.
Unai Emery’s side have been one of the busiest sides in this summer’s transfer window so far as they look to build on a successful season last term.
The west Midlands club secured a place in the Champions League for the first time since 1983 but one player is likely to head for the exit this summer.
According to talkSPORT, Villa and Al Ittihad are in advanced talks over the transfer of Moussa Diaby.
The 25-year-old is said to be pushing for the move to Saudi Arabia after one season in the Premier League.
An Aston Villa winger is reportedly in talks over a £60million move to the Saudi Pro League
Moussa Diaby is said to be pushing for a move to Al Ittihad after one season with Aston Villa
Villa beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr to Diaby’s signature a year ago when they bought him from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record £45million.
Diaby made 54 appearances for Villa and scored 10 goals to help them into the Champions League in his first season but the he was still left out of Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the European Championships.
With Diaby signing a deal until 2028 and a key member of Emery’s side, it will cost Al Ittihad a hefty fee if they want to prise the forward away from Villa Park.
He is seen as a key member of Emery’s side in the Villa season that saw them finish fourth in the Premier League last season.
If the deal goes through, Diaby will become the second first team player to leave Aston Villa this summer after Douglas Luiz.
Luiz joined Juventus at the end of last month to bring his stay in the Midlands to an end after five seasons and over 150 appearances.
The 25-year-old Frenchman scored 10 goals in 54 matches for Unai Emery’s side last season
Enzo Barrenechea and midfielder Samuel Iling Jr moved in the other direction as part of the deal.
Villa are also on the verge of signing Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton on a deal worth around £50million.