What happened: Fabrizio Romano reports that Al Ittihad sporting director Ramón Planes is in final-stage talks to terminate his contract by mutual agreement. The former Barcelona director is already weighing proposals from European clubs after his Saudi Pro League stint.

Why it matters: Planes leaves having delivered a league-and-cup double at Al Ittihad, giving him fresh leverage in a European market where sporting-director seats turn over quickly each summer. His exit also signals continued churn in Saudi Pro League front offices as clubs reassess their post-boom recruitment models.

What to watch: Watch for the official termination announcement from Al Ittihad and the first concrete European link, with Spanish and Italian clubs the most plausible landing spots given his background.