It is looking increasingly likely that Moussa Diaby will play for Ittihad Club from next season. The negotiations between the Saudis, Diaby and his entourage and Aston Villa, where the Frenchman is contracted until mid-2028, are going well. This is reported by Fabrizio Romano.

The Team already reported on Tuesday that Ittihad Club has made an opening bid of no less than 55 million euros to Villa. Diaby is an important player under manager Unai Emery, but is not always certain of a starting place under the Spaniard. Diaby started in 25 of the 38 Premier League matches last season.

The expectation is that the amount will be significantly higher than the offered amount of 55 million euros. Especially since Villa wants to receive more than 71 million and actually has an amount of more than 80 million euros in mind.

Journalist Ben Jacobs writes about this that Ittihad finds the requested transfer fee too high. Ittihad has increased his offer to an amount that is closer to the asking price of the Englishmen and the expectation is that the clubs will reach an agreement. Diaby can expect an annual salary of fifteen million euros.

Emery does see a future for Diaby in Birmingham and would like to keep him. However, the manager realises that Villa already had to deal with the 'Profitability and Sustainability Regulations' (PSR) earlier this season. The PSR stipulates that Premier League clubs may not make a loss of more than the equivalent of approximately 125 million euros every three years.

If Ittihad Club makes an offer that is simply too good to refuse, it will come from a transfer. With that money, Villa and Emery would be able to move more freely on the transfer market this summer without serious restrictions.

At Ittihad Club, Laurent Blanc was recently appointed as the new coach. Blanc already brought the French-born Houssem Aouar, who plays his international matches for Algeria, to the club and now wants to bring Diaby to the club as well. With N'Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema, several (French) stars are already under contract there.

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