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Inter Milan have placed one of their leading players on the market for Al-Ittihad, while the Saudi club's hierarchy have delivered a strong response to the pressure surrounding Moussa Diaby's future.

Al-Ahli's transfer window is heating up.

Saudi side Al-Ittihad have become a major talking point within Inter, with the Italian giants now intent on moving out one of their prominent names and reshaping the squad in the current summer transfer window. The player involved is France star Benjamin Pavard.

For Al-Ittihad, the moment is a sensitive one. Their ambition to strengthen the back line with top-class names is colliding with internal issues linked to the desire of some current stars to leave. At the centre of that is French winger Moussa Diaby, who, according to media reports, is planning an exit.

Pavard enters Al-Ittihad's sights after Inter's decision

Inter have already begun practical steps to part company with France international defender Benjamin Pavard in the ongoing summer transfer window. He is no longer part of the technical plans of head coach Cristian Chivu, who is trying to build a new phase at the Giuseppe Meazza.

According to well-known Italian journalist and European transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the Nerazzurri are looking to create room in the squad and reduce the wage bill. That has become even more important after the club reached a preliminary agreement to sign Argentina defender Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur, making Pavard's exit a technical and financial necessity.

Romano said during a live appearance on his YouTube channel that Inter have offered Pavard to Saudi club Al-Ittihad as well as other teams, in the hope of accelerating his departure and generating the funds they require.

The 2018 World Cup winner is drawing attention from major European clubs, but his next destination is still uncertain. He has turned down the official proposals that came to him recently. Inter, for their part, are eager to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and are counting on the spending power of Saudi clubs to complete the transfer.

Tug-of-war between Inter and Bayern

At the same time, reports in Italy indicate that Pavard is not rushing into a decision despite the pressure being applied by his current club. Tuttosport reported that the French defender has outright rejected offers from Portuguese club Benfica and Turkish side Galatasaray, even though he does not see a future for himself under the club's new technical direction.

Al-Ittihad remain an attractive option for the player, and not only because of the financial package. A move would also allow him to share the dressing room with a number of global stars already playing in the Saudi league.

A transfer to Jeddah could also help Inter in another way by making it easier for them to chase other targets. The Italian newspaper pointed to Atletico Madrid winger Nico Gonzalez as one of the players Inter have identified to strengthen their attack for next season.

Al-Ittihad will not bow to Diaby's demands

While talks over Pavard continue, Al-Ittihad are also facing growing pressure regarding the future of French winger Moussa Diaby. The club want to reinforce the squad, but reports suggest the player's agent is working hard to push through an exit from Al-Ameed.

However, Al-Ittihad's management have a clear view and a firm position. They are not prepared to let one of their most important creative players leave easily, particularly in light of offers they believe do not reflect the technical and commercial value they invested to sign him.

Saudi media personality Hattan Al-Najjar addressed the issue in a post on X, saying: "There is no intention at Al-Ittihad to sell Moussa Diaby. The offers submitted are weak compared to the player's value and importance, and would not even help in signing a replacement for him. The pressure being exerted by the player's agent or the German club with such an offer will be of no use. (40 million euros) is the fair value, that is if Al-Ittihad were to consider selling."

Inter remain a constant factor in Al-Ameed's transfer window

Inter continue to play a central role in Al-Ittihad's summer market plans. Media figure Mohammed Al-Bakiri reported that the Italian club have decided to revise their proposal to Al-Ittihad in an effort to complete the signing of French winger Moussa Diaby during the summer window.

In his update on X, Al-Bakiri said Al-Ittihad had hesitated over Inter's 40 million euro bid for a permanent deal for Diaby. In response, Inter officials are said to have suggested a one-season loan worth 28 million, even though the French player himself would rather leave on a permanent transfer.

Al-Riyadiah presented a different version of events. The newspaper claimed that Al-Ittihad had received an official offer from Inter worth 18 million euros plus Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani in exchange for Diaby.

This is not the first time Diaby has been linked with a move away from Al-Ittihad. On each previous occasion, the outcome has been the same, with the player staying at the club. The next few days could be decisive in determining his future with the Saudi side.