The Saudi Pro League remains a destination where players of a certain age are now considering seeing out their playing days.
As yet, the influx of players in their prime hasn’t occurred, though there are one or two notable exceptions.
Whether the drip, drip effect will soon turn into a waterfall and the vast majority of the world’s best players ply their trade there ahead of the 2030 World Cup remains to be seen.
In the meantime, clubs will continued to do their best to attract top European talent whilst making headway in the various competitions with their current squad.
One player that decided to swap Anfield for Saudi Arabia was Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, the Brazilian pitching up at Al Ahli and promptly scoring a hat-trick on his debut.
Since then it’s all been downhill, however.
The striker hasn’t found the net in the subsequent 16 matches per WhoScored, leading to the club suggesting he can move on.
According to Football Insider, Firmino’s former Liverpool colleague, Steven Gerrard, is interested in taking him to Al Ettifaq, where he’d also join up with other ex-Anfield favourites, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson.
Perhaps playing alongside former team-mates could spark the 32-year-old back into life in front of goal and give eighth placed Al Ettifaq – without a win since October – a boost in the process.