Al-Hilal is negotiating with Mohamed Kader Meite, the striker for French club Rennes
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal club has entered the race to sign rising French league talent Mohamed Kader Meiti , striker for Stade Rennais, to strengthen the ranks of “Al-Zaeem” during the current winter transfer window, in a move that confirms the continuation of the Saudi clubs’ strategy to attract the most prominent young international talents.
Details of the offer and the fierce competition
According to reliable press reports published by the famous French newspaper “L’Equipe”, the management of Al-Hilal club has expressed its full readiness to submit a huge and tempting financial offer to the management of Rennes club, with the aim of quickly finalizing the deal for the 18-year-old striker, and cutting off the path for competitors.
The newspaper explained that Al-Hilal's task will not be easy, as the "Blue Wave" faces fierce competition from a Premier League club that is closely monitoring the player's progress. Meite has so far played 30 matches for Stade Rennais' first team, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists – impressive figures for a player of his age in one of Europe's top five leagues.
The French club's position and market value
On the other hand, reports indicate that Rennes' management is keen to retain the player and is eager to extend his contract, which currently expires in 2028, given his considerable talent and potential for future development. However, the French club may be forced to concede and accept his departure should an irresistible financial offer arrive, especially considering the growing interest from Saudi and English clubs, which could significantly increase the player's price. The young striker's current market value is estimated at around €10 million, according to the global statistics website Transfermarkt.
General context: A strategy for attracting young talent
This move is not a coincidence, but rather part of the major transformation underway in the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League). After a phase of attracting experienced international stars, Saudi clubs, with the support of the Public Investment Fund, have begun focusing on recruiting young talents (under 21 years old) to build a sustainable future for Saudi football and raise the league's technical and marketing value in the long term.
The importance of the deal for Al-Hilal club
The potential signing of Mohamed Kader Meiti would be a significant addition to Al Hilal's attack, which is competing on multiple fronts both domestically and continentally, including defending its league title and participating in the AFC Champions League. Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is looking to bolster the bench with young, dynamic players capable of making a difference, aiming to maintain Al Hilal's dominance and alleviate pressure on the starting strikers amidst a congested fixture schedule.
