Al Ittihad slam door shut on Kanté and Diaby exits while eyeing Álvaro Rodríguez

Despite interest from European clubs, Al Ittihad have taken a firm stance on keeping their French stars while simultaneously hunting for striking reinforcements, with Elche’s Álvaro Rodríguez topping their wishlist.

French stars staying put

Al Ittihad have reportedly slammed the door shut on any potential January exits for Moussa Diaby and N’Golo Kanté, according to Saudi outlet Al-Riyadiyah. The Saudi Pro League outfit, currently under the management of Sérgio Conceiçao, have rejected multiple approaches for the French internationals despite considerable interest from across Europe.

Inter Milan had been keen to secure Diaby on a loan deal until the end of the season, while Turkish giants Fenerbahçe tabled an offer in the region of €9 million for midfield dynamo Kanté. Both proposals have been given the old heave-ho by Al Ittihad’s hierarchy, who clearly see the pair as crucial to their ambitions.

Striker search intensifies

Rather than weakening their squad, Al Ittihad are looking to strengthen their attacking options. The club, where Karim Benzema currently plies his trade, have identified three potential number nine targets:

• Álvaro Rodríguez (Elche) - The Uruguayan forward appears to be their primary target
• Lucas Stassen (St.-Étienne) - The Belgian striker has also caught their eye
• Yasser Zabiri (Famalicao) - The Moroccan completes their three-man shortlist

The interest in Elche’s Rodríguez is particularly intriguing, with the Uruguayan evidently impressing enough in Spain’s second tier to attract attention from the cash-rich Saudi outfit.

This transfer activity suggests Al Ittihad are looking to build around their current stars rather than cash in, with Benzema potentially set to receive additional firepower alongside him in attack. Seems the Saudi revolution isn’t just about bringing in big names for a pension top-up - they’re proper serious about building competitive squads.