According to Relevo, Ramón Planes, the sporting director of Al Ittihad, has reached out to Frenkie de Jong's entourage. FC Barcelona had initially extended a contract offer to De Jong, but it has been retracted due to his reluctance to commit to an extension. De Jong's representatives are considering various possibilities, including a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia. Al Ittihad is among the few clubs capable of meeting De Jong's substantial salary demands, and preliminary discussions have been initiated. Should Al Ittihad choose to actively pursue De Jong, the transfer might occur in the summer.

Frenkie De Jong, the Dutch midfielder, remains the highest-paid player at Barcelona with a gross salary of approximately 38 million euros. Barcelona is reluctant to renew his contract, which is set to expire on June 30, 2026, due to what they perceive as his unsatisfactory performance and frequent injuries over his six-year tenure at Camp Nou. Transfermarkt has valued him at 45 million euros, a price that some clubs might manage, though his substantial salary poses a challenge, even for Premier League teams. There is speculation about a potential move to Saudi Arabia, and his agent, Ali Durson, reportedly does not consider this option to be a 'folly.' De Jong has been offered to four leading teams in the Saudi Pro League, including Al Ittihad.