- Al-Ahli have opened talks with AS Monaco over Pape Cabral, with a deal potentially worth about €10m
- Monaco were unable to complete Erik Lira’s summer arrival because no non-EU squad place became available
- Thiago Scuro confirmed at Wednesday’s press conference that Lira’s proposed move depended on Folarin Balogun freeing a foreign (Non-EU) spot
Cabral Emerges as Saudi Target After Busy Monaco Deadline
AS Monaco’s post-deadline transfer situation remains active, with Al-Ahli in discussions to sign academy midfielder Pape Cabral (19). The Saudi club have contacted Monaco, and negotiations are understood to have moved forward at speed.
A transfer could be agreed for a fee of about €10m. Cabral, who came through Monaco’s academy, had been expected to have a potential first-team role this season after extending his contract until 2031 over the summer. However, he is now seemingly close to leaving the Stade Louis II.
The interest from Al-Ahli comes after a hectic transfer deadline day for Monaco. The Principality club had sought to sell either Folarin Balogun or Lamine Camara, but no such departure was completed. That outcome has left Monaco in a difficult position, with further sales still required.
Balogun could still depart, with the transfer markets in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia remaining open, but it is Cabral who is currently drawing attention from the Saudi market.
🚨 PAPE CABRAL 🇫🇷 (2007) A JOUÉ 107 MINUTES EN PRO ET S’APPRÊTE DÉJÀ À PARTIR EN ARABIE SAOUDITE 🇸🇦 POUR 10 M€ !!! 🤯💰
L’AS Monaco a vraiment besoin de liquidités et est en négociations avancées pour transférer son jeune milieu de 19 ans à Al-Ahli.
🗞️ @lequipe pic.twitter.com/joneXFNDBD
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) September 3, 2026
Lira Deal Stalled by Non-EU Squad Limitation
Monaco have also kept open the possibility of signing Erik Lira (26) at a later stage after being unable to finalise his arrival during the summer window. The Mexican was a target for the club throughout the summer, but the move was blocked because Monaco did not have an available non-EU place in the squad.
The expected departure of Folarin Balogun was supposed to create that opening. However, his proposed move to Everton was not completed, meaning the condition required for Lira’s arrival was not met.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro confirmed the extent of the negotiations and the circumstances that prevented the move.
“The situation with Erik Lira, our relationship with Cruz Azul… I want to really thank them, and I appreciate the way they dealt with everything with us. The deal was ready. The player was ready to travel. Everything was absolutely pressing on the button. But it was mandatory in the agreement that Balogun would open the foreign (Non-EU) spot. Because of that, we were not able to bring Erik Lira. That was our desire. Having to call the player and say, I’m sorry, we couldn’t make it. As a human, it’s a very hard part of the job during the transfer window,” he said.
January Pursuit Remains Possible
Scuro was then asked whether Monaco could revive their pursuit of Lira in January. While he did not confirm that the club would return with another move, he made clear that the player remains highly regarded.
“It depends on several things. We are not in a position to ask them to wait, keep holding. But for sure, it’s a player that has our attention and respect,” added Scuro.
Monaco Transfer Situations at a Glance
Both situations highlight Monaco’s delicate transfer balance: Cabral may yet provide an outgoing deal as the club look to generate sales, while Lira remains a player of interest whose arrival was directly tied to squad registration constraints.
