Alalshikh is known worldwide as the mastermind behind Riyadh Season, an annual season of sports and entertainment events in Saudi Arabia.

The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority is reported to have a net worth of around $2.8billion (around £2.05b).

TalkSPORT presenter and former Premier League chairman Jordan revealed Saudi advisor Alalshikh is looking to buy a club in England.

“It’s not just talk, they are interested because they have told me, I have tried to talk to them out of Millwall,” Jordan told TalkSPORT.

Turki Alalshikh is the leading figure in promoting combat sports in Saudi Arabia (Image: DAZN)

“I don’t think they are a proper football club. But he likes Millwall and he likes Southampton, he doesn’t want a club in the north.

“I suggested Sheffield Wednesday but he wants a club in the south and Millwall and Southampton are the two that he thinks are interesting.

“It’s not me breaching confidence – he’s asked me to say that.”

Alalshikh was owner of Egyptian club Pyramids from 2018 to 2019, and owned Spanish club UD Almeria between August 2019 and May 2025.

Almeria won promotion from the second tier in 2022 but were relegated back out of La Liga, and finished sixth this season in Liga Segunda.

Former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan previously stated a rumour that Sport Republic owner Dragan Solak had put Saints up for sale this summer.

The Daily Echo followed up and reported that while Solak is not actively looking for a sale, the club does have a price.

Saints have been relegated twice in three full seasons under the owners, who have appointed a new team to lead the club in the Championship.

Technical director Johannes Spors has revamped the club’s recruitment department and hired Will Still as new manager on a three-year deal.

Southampton ready to play hardball over Mateus Fernandes transfer

Southampton have poured cold water on Mateus Fernandes’ speculated £30m price and seem prepared to play hardball over selling him.

Discussions around Mateus Fernandes have been going in full flow, and recently, Southampton fans pleaded him to reject any Leeds United approach in the future. And for good reasons too, as neither the player is guaranteed a longer Premier League stay there nor the club will pocket a significant transfer fee.

Now, moving to other options like Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, they would certainly tempt Mateus Fernandes. But can any of them satisfy Southampton’s financial demands remains the big question.

Actually, an official opening bid will suggest how much the rival Premier League clubs are willing to splash on Fernandes. But Southampton’s stance is becoming clear now and it isn’t a transfer friendly one from the surface.

Southampton aren’t keen to undersell Mateus Fernandes

As quoted by the Daily Echo: “A potential £30m price tag was laughed off on Friday, with another quick-witted source quipping: ‘His hair is worth £30m’.”

Hence, the writing about a hardball negotiation is pretty much on the wall. Fair enough, this is how most fans want Southampton to act during player sales.

It’s no secret that last summer was a horrible one in terms of signings, so the few players Southampton got right, they must show their resistance in letting them leave. Plus, the Saints know that Fernandes will now be viewed as Championship material after relegation, so, it’s probably the midfielder’s lowest valuation on the back of a star making campaign.

All things considered, Southampton must try accelerating other player exits instead of Mateus and Tyler Dibling fits that bill. Not as consistent as the Portuguese but can command hefty transfer offers only because the winger’s market has a shortage of flair playmakers.

Regarding Mateus, Southampton has a strong hold of the negotiating table and a sale shouldn’t be the priority.