Fulham owner Tony Khan hit out at Saudi Arabia as Al Hilal continue to pursue a move for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
According to Sky Sports News, the Fulham forward has told relatives he will never play for the club again after the Cottagers valued him at around £52 million.
The price, which has reportedly been quoted from his agents, is likely to put off Mitrovic’s suitors.
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The striker was even said to be considering staying away from Fulham’s pre-season tour altogether but was convinced by his agent Pini Zahavi and PFA representatives to join the squad as they depart for their US tour.
Zahavi is said to have urged Fulham owner Kahn to lower Mitrovic’s value to somewhere between £35 million and £45 million.
The Serbian international netted 14 goals last term to help Fulham finish in the top half of the Premier League, while a season earlier his goals played a key role in the west London club’s return to the top flight.
Khan’s Saudi Arabia claims
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Khan controversially took aim at Saudi Arabia as he was quizzed on the influx of players into the Saudi Pro League amid more speculation surrounding Mitrovic’s future.
Khan is standing firm on his valuation of the player and has hit out at Saudi Arabia’s approach to signings this summer.
Speaking on The Dan Le Batard Show, the Fulham owner claimed: “It’s amazing and I think if you have enough money you can get away with anything, including murder, and try to sign up all the top players in the world.”
Khan's statement comes amid concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which Amnesty International labelled "atrocious" earlier this month. The group also called on Steven Gerrard to highlight equality issues after he was appointed manager of Al-Ettifaq.
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Khan added: “They've certainly approached a lot of great players, but we're committed to keeping our top stars.”
Saudi Arabia has attracted several of Europe’s stars since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema moved to Al Ittihad last month, while N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy have also secured transfers to the Gulf state.
Moreover, Mitrovic's international team-mate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic recently signed for Al Hilal.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Football, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Fulham, Premier League