Saudi offer vs Premier League: Trincão’s choice puts City on alert

Sporting Lisbon have struck a reported €45 million (£37.9 million) agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for winger Francisco Trincão, but the 26‑year‑old Portugal international has yet to sign, as he weighs the lucrative Saudi offer against a possible move to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Manchester City remain on Trincão’s shortlist, but the club have not opened formal talks with Sporting, leaving the player in limbo as he waits for a concrete approach. The 26‑year‑old has indicated a preference for a Premier League switch over the Saudi Pro League, prompting City to monitor his situation closely. City are set for a busy summer after Pep Guardiola’s departure, with Enzo Maresca taking over as manager, and the Blues must rebuild beyond Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake.

Tottenham Hotspur also feature among the English clubs on Trincão’s shortlist, but the winger hopes to buy time for a formal approach from Manchester City to materialise.

Sporting director Hugo Viana is charting a course for a title‑winning Manchester City side, while uncertainty surrounds the futures of Ruben Dias, Rodri, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and James Trafford.

Trincão, a client of super‑agent Jorge Mendes, joined Sporting in 2022 after a spell at Barcelona and a loan at Wolves. The Portuguese international has recorded 35 goals and 33 assists in four Primeira Liga seasons for the Portuguese champions.

If Trincão ultimately joins Manchester City, he will exchange a lucrative Saudi Pro League contract for a Premier League challenge, while Al Ahli could lose a £38 million transfer fee that has already been agreed with Sporting Lisbon.