With each day passing, Al Nassr intensifies its preparations for the title race. Every move counts from now on, as just a handful of matches remain for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. to stay atop the league standings alongside Al Hilal. However, off the pitch, coach Luis Castro is initiating changes beyond the tactic board, as reports suggest he has urged the board to consider selling two key players. 

The players who might become victims of squad shake-up are midfielder Seko Fofana and defender Ghislain Konan. Both have allegedly failed to prove Castro, forcing the Portuguese tactician to add the duo to the transfer list. Notably, Fofana, currently on loan at Al Ettifaq, had made 24 appearances for Al Nassr, notching 3 goals and 2 assists as well. But despite joining them in the summer of 2023, he was sent on loan to Al Ettifaq this January until the end of the season. So far, he has played just 4 games for the rivals. 

On the other hand, Ghislain Konan has also been on loan at Al-Fayha since the beginning of the 2023-24 season. The Ivory Coast left-back will also return to Knights of the Najd at the end of the season alongside Fofana as the season ends. Although it would be the first time Konan’s future has come into the headlines, Fofana has often been linked with an exit. Before joining Al Ettifaq on loan, the 28-year-old had expressed his desire to leave Al Nassr and return to Europe. Perhaps Castro is keen to sell both the defender and the midfielder in order to invest more in the attack. 

Al Nassr locks horns with Roshn League rivals to splurge $108 million Raphinha

According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur’s report, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal are all vying to secure the services of Raphinha from Barcelona. Allegedly, all three teams in the Roshn Saudi League are prepared to offer up to €100 million ($108 million) for the 27-year-old winger. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Raphinha has been linked with a move away from Europe.

During the summer transfer window, there were rumors of him joining Ronaldo in Riyadh. In recent months, the Brazilian winger has been linked with a departure from Barcelona due to performances that have fallen short of certain board members’ expectations. It remains to be seen how Al Nassr will outmaneuver their biggest rivals to secure Raphinha’s signature, especially after addressing the futures of Seko Fofana and Ghislain Konan at the club.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Receives Huge Boost as Al Hilal’s Top Goalscorer Sidelined for Saudi Super Cup Due to Injury- Reports