Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira face competition from Belgian sides Gent and Anderlecht and the Bundesliga’s Hertha Berlin in their quest to sign the Standard Liege midfielder Adrien Trebel.
As Gulf News reported last week, the Pride of Abu Dhabi turned their attention to the 25-year-old after the Premier League new boys Burnley beat them to the signature of the Belgium international Steven Defour from Anderlecht.
Trebel has played a key role for Les Rouches since he joined them from Nantes two years ago, scoring three goals in 63 Jupiler Pro League appearances.
According to reports in the Belgian press on Thursday, the Frenchman has agreed to join Al Jazira and even snubbed a lucrative offer to move to the Chinese Super League heavyweights Guangzhou Evergrande.
But Gent, Anderlecht and Hertha Berlin’s interest could yet sway his mind another way.
“So far there is nothing [in terms of a deal],” Ayed Mabkhout, the Al Jazira Chief Executive said on Thursday.
He pointed out that the club have five foreigners on their books and must cut that number to four by the start of the new season next month, with the Brazilian attacking midfielder Thiago Neves expected to depart.
Jazira are desperate to improve on last term’s disappointing seventh-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League.
They have snapped up Morocco playmaker Mbark Boussoufa on a free transfer after his contract expired at Lokomotiv Moscow, with UAE right-back Mohammad Fawzi joining from Al Ain plus centre midfielders Salem Abdullah and Humaid Ahmad from Al Wasl and Fujairah.
The capital club begin the new season with a home Arabian Gulf Cup tie against city rivals Al Wahda on Saturday, September 3 before taking on Al Ahli in the Arabian Gulf Super Cup in Cairo 10 days later.
