Moroccan defender Sofiane El Karouani, a player for Al-Qadsiah, is close to joining Portuguese club Benfica in the current summer transfer window.
According to the Saudi newspaper "Al-Riyadh," negotiations between the administrations of the two clubs have reached a critical stage, especially after the player fell out of favor with Al-Qadsiah's coach, Brendan Rodgers.
El Karouani, 25, joined Al-Qadsiah this summer on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Dutch club Utrecht, signing a deal until the summer of 2029.
The Moroccan defender played 50 matches for Al-Qadsiah last season, scoring five goals and providing 18 assists, according to the global website "Transfermarkt."
This move would mark the Moroccan defender's second European stint following his experience in the Dutch league.
Al-Qadsiah is scheduled to play their fourth-round match against rivals Al-Faisaly next Sunday.
The Al-Qadsiah team currently occupies third place with 6 points, having won two matches and lost one against Al-Ittihad by a score of 1-0.
