Al-Ittihad face squad pressure after summer exits and injuries

Jens Wissing’s brief response to questions about further signings has heightened concern around Al-Ittihad, with the Saudi club facing significant weaknesses across the squad despite opening their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a 4-1 win over Al Jazira in the play-off round.

“I will not think about that now,” the German manager said when asked whether Al-Ittihad would make more additions before the summer transfer window closes.

Those words have increased the anxiety among supporters, who fear the club could be heading for another difficult season unless key players are retained and reinforcements arrive.

Al-Ittihad appear well stocked in defence and attack, but there is a clear imbalance in midfield. The club began the new campaign without three midfielders who were part of last season’s squad: Fabinho, who left after his contract expired, and Mamadou Doumbia and Hamad Al-Ghamdi, both of whom are facing lengthy injury absences.

Faisal Al-Ghamdi is also close to joining Neom, which would leave another vacancy in the centre of the pitch.

Al-Ittihad have signed Senegal midfielder Dion Lopy from Almeria and Rakan Al-Kaabi from Al-Fayha. However, the club are also understood to be keen to bring in another overseas player in the same position, a move that appears essential rather than optional.

Despite signing Al-Kaabi, Wissing selected the young Farhah Al-Shamrani alongside Lopy in midfield for the club’s first competitive match. Al-Shamrani performed well overall, but his youth was reflected in some excessive eagerness, including an early yellow card.

That sort of inexperience could prove costly against stronger opponents. Al-Ittihad therefore need another midfielder who can partner Lopy and Algeria international Houssem Aouar, while also providing cover if Lopy is unavailable.

The priority is not simply to find another starter. Al-Ittihad also require greater depth, because losing Lopy without bringing in an additional midfielder would leave Wissing with a serious problem.

The club’s options on the wings have also been reduced. Until recently, their wide attacking positions included France international Moussa Diaby, Netherlands winger Steven Bergwijn, Portugal’s Roger Fernandes, as well as Marwan Al Sahafi and Abdulrahman Al-Aboud.

Roger Fernandes has suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury that is expected to keep him out for almost the entire season. Diaby, meanwhile, could leave for Inter Milan or Bayer Leverkusen.

Diaby has faced criticism from some Al-Ittihad supporters, but his performance against Al Jazira demonstrated his quality and his ability to influence matches when used effectively by the manager.

If Diaby departs, Al-Ittihad would lose their second right winger after Fernandes, leaving the young Al Sahafi as the only recognised option on that side. Keeping Diaby, alongside Bergwijn on the opposite flank, would offer far greater depth, with Al Sahafi, Al-Aboud and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi providing further alternatives.

There is also uncertainty in attack. Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri could be among those to leave amid reports that Wissing is not fully convinced by his ability.

En-Nesyri provided the assist for Al-Ittihad’s fourth goal against Al Jazira, but his overall display fell below expectations. That has revived suggestions that his departure could happen soon.

Should En-Nesyri leave, replacing him would be difficult, especially with the European summer transfer window approaching its conclusion. Some may argue that Al-Ittihad could rely on a forward partnership of Saleh Al-Shehri and Nigeria striker George Ilenikhena, but that would be a considerable gamble.

Al-Shehri has extensive experience, although he has been away from regular football for a long period and has suffered repeated injuries. Depending on him as either a starting striker or a substitute would carry significant risk.

Ilenikhena, meanwhile, cannot be expected to lead the attack alone. He has limited experience and missed most of last season, making it difficult to place the responsibility of carrying a club of Al-Ittihad’s size on his shoulders.

More worryingly, Ilenikhena could also leave, with several European clubs reportedly interested in signing him. That would leave Al-Ittihad in an even more difficult position, even if En-Nesyri stays.

A less obvious weakness exists at right-back. Al-Ittihad have three players capable of operating in that position, but none provides complete security.

Mohannad Al-Shanqeeti is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the Saudi Pro League, although his strengths are more apparent in attack. He can leave large spaces behind him, areas that opponents may exploit.

The problem becomes more serious when he is absent, as demonstrated against Al Jazira. Rather than selecting his usual replacement, Ahmed Al-Jleidan, Wissing initially tried Serbia defender Jan-Carlo Simic in the position.

Simic was unable to contain Al Jazira winger Milson before Al-Jleidan was introduced. His subsequent error near the edge of the penalty area underlined why Wissing had been reluctant to use him from the start.

Al-Jleidan’s impulsiveness was also evident last season, when he was sent off for a reckless challenge during Al-Ittihad’s King’s Cup round-of-16 meeting with Al-Nassr.

The third-choice option, Fawaz Al-Saqqour, also has clear defensive weaknesses. As a result, protecting the right side against stronger teams could become extremely difficult and potentially costly.

Al-Ittihad’s main task in the remaining days of the transfer window is therefore to prevent the departure of established players and even important substitutes unless adequate replacements are secured.

The midfield crisis began with the departures of players such as Fabinho, compounded by injuries. The club cannot allow the same problem to spread to the wings or centre-forward position.

After retaining their main stars, Al-Ittihad need at least one more midfield signing and should be ready to strengthen further during the season.

That will be crucial if the club are to recover from last season’s disappointing campaign and challenge in both the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Elite.

Allowing key players to leave without suitable replacements, or replacing them with lower-quality alternatives, would merely repeat the same mistakes while expecting different results.