Al Hilal targets MLS Golden Boot winner as Neymar’s replacement: Reports

Saudi giants Al Hilal have an eye on the 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, 29, who had an exceptional season with LAFC, scoring 20 goals and providing 7 assists in 31 appearances including five in the playoffs as his team played in the final against Columbus Crew.

Denis Bouanga reported to join Al Hilal

Denis Bouanga, the MLS top scorer, has been attracting attention from other clubs- including Tigres in Mexico’s Liga MX, French Ligue 1 OGC Nice and now he is being probed by one of the Saudi Arabian football clubs. According to the newspaper le10sport, Al-Hilal have the 29-year-old Gabonese forward in mind ahead of the current transfer window.

Adding to the newspaper report further, The Gabonese footballer would prefer to move to Al Hilal over returning to Ligue 1. Los Angeles (LAFC) values him at around $16.4 million (roughly 15 million euros) and this would not be too much for Saudi Arabian clubs. Although, Al Hilal’s expecting him in the squad as Neymar’s replacement.

Also Read: Man Utd Winger Jadon Sancho’s Potential Return to Borussia Dortmund: A High-Stake Transfer Saga

Neymar, The Brazillian forward injured his left knee in the first half of Brazil’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match on October 17th, 2023. As per the latest update, he’s still in the initial phase and expected to be back in the field after months.

The upcoming weeks will undoubtedly be intriguing as we observe the developments surrounding LAFC. The team’s reaction to the potential departure of key players adds an extra layer of suspense, making it fascinating to see how they navigate such situations.