Dubai: Bani Yas Club's move to loan Fulham's Algerian defender Rafik Halliche has been turned down, it has been revealed.
Halliche who moved to Swansea City on loan until January on transfer deadline day, to provide emergency cover for Alan Tate who broke his leg in a golf buggy accident, had earlier politely declined a move to Abu Dhabi.
A Bani Yas official confirmed to Gulf News on Monday that: "New Uruguayan summer signing Sergio Gonzalo Rodriguez left the club last week. We are looking for someone stronger and better. We are currently assessing our options for a better central defender."
Fulham had refused to loan Halliche out to Bani Yas. The player's agent had apparently told the club he had only recently joined Fulham from Benfica and his client expressed a strong desire to stay in the English Premier League. The agent apologised to Bani Yas and thanked them for their confidence in his potential and their strong desire to sign him.
A Bani Yas source had earlier told Arabic press: "Bani Yas is working at the moment, in coordination with coach Jorvan Vieira, to review the resumes of other central defenders to choose an alternative to Halliche."
An unnamed Brazilian and a Tunisian were identified as potential targets as the club is eager to choose a defender to join training and stabilize the squad as it begins Etisalat Cup duty from September 15.
Whoever joins will be alongside other foreign signings; Fawzi Basheer, Andre Senghor and David Trezeguet, as the league runners-up look for first under the former 2007 Iraq Asian Cup winning coach, Vieira.
Rodriguez joining of Bani Yas is one of the shortest lived tenures of the summer behind Eyeman Henaini and Patrick Alves, who stayed just days at Dubai Club before being ousted by picky Nestor Clausen.
