Al-Ittihad make late move for Hadj Moussa as Feyenoord weigh record sale

Anis Hadj Moussa’s future is set to be decided in the final hours of the Saudi Arabian transfer window, with Al-Ittihad increasingly confident of signing the Feyenoord winger despite growing tension between the player and the Dutch club.

Feyenoord had previously been regarded as highly unlikely to sell the 24-year-old before the end of the transfer window. However, the Algeria international could now leave Rotterdam after Al-Ittihad stepped up their efforts with a series of proposals in recent days.

The Saudi club, based in Jeddah, are understood to have moved towards a fee of €40m while also offering Hadj Moussa a particularly lucrative contract.

Journalist Nabil Djellit said: « Des bonnes chances que le deal se fasse » – “There is a good chance the deal will happen.” If completed, the transfer would make Hadj Moussa the most expensive sale in Feyenoord’s history.

The club’s position is believed to have softened after it became clear that no satisfactory offer had arrived from the Premier League. England had initially been Hadj Moussa’s preferred destination, and only a few weeks ago the prospect of him leaving Feyenoord appeared highly unlikely as he looked ahead to playing in the Champions League with the Dutch side.

Speculation increased on Saturday night after Al-Ittihad beat Al-Nassr. Houssem Aouar, the Algeria international, was asked by a Saudi journalist whether he had spoken to Hadj Moussa. Aouar avoided answering, laughing as he moved past the question.

There are, however, conflicting reports about the player’s current relationship with Feyenoord and the circumstances surrounding his absence from the club’s match against NEC Nijmegen.

According to Sport, Hadj Moussa initially accepted Feyenoord’s decision to keep him after the club rejected a bid from Saudi Arabia. The situation is said to have changed on Saturday, with the influence of those close to the player reportedly contributing to his decision to oppose the club’s stance.

His omission from the squad for the game against NEC Nijmegen led to further scrutiny. Some Dutch reports initially said Hadj Moussa had missed the team bus after arriving late. Other accounts have offered a different explanation, meaning the precise reason for his absence remains unclear.

The dispute follows several days of disagreement between the player’s camp and Feyenoord. Hadj Moussa and his representatives believed commitments had been made about the terms under which he could leave. Technical director Devy Rigaux, however, has maintained that no such agreement existed in writing.

The winger’s situation has changed rapidly. After impressing in the Champions League several months ago, Hadj Moussa appeared to be on course for a move to one of Europe’s major leagues, with the Premier League frequently mentioned as a possible destination.

That anticipated major offer never materialised. Al-Ittihad have now presented the biggest transfer opportunity of his career, leaving Feyenoord with a difficult decision.

The Dutch club must choose whether to retain a player who could be unhappy, without being able to sign a replacement because the Netherlands’ transfer window has closed, or accept what would be a record fee.

Al-Ittihad have only one day left to persuade Feyenoord to sell.