Jires Kembo Ekoko in line for move to Bani Yas

Abu Dhabi: French winger Jires Kembo Ekoko, having been left in the cold by Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic this summer, now looks set to sign for Arabian Gulf League rivals Bani Yas.

Although the DR Congo-born star is poised for a medical with the promise of a one-year deal, Ekoko kept the suspense on Sunday by tweeting: “I do not sign with Bani Yas. When I will sign somewhere, I will you let you know. I’m still in Al Ain.”

Dalic, in a recent interview with Gulf News, said he and the team think-tank had opted to rope in former Dutch international Ryan Babel as a replacement for Ekoko.

“We have Babel coming into the team and so there has to be a change in our approach and plan for the next season, and hence the change was imminent,” Dalic had revealed.

Ekoko, who moved to Al Ain in 2012 from Rennes on a four-year deal, was previously sent on loan to Qatari club Al Jaish for a year before moving back to the UAE last season.

If the Bani Yas deal goes through, the 27-year-old will join Australian defender Mark Milligan, Argentinian striker Joaquin Larrivey and Algerian winger Ishak Belfodil as the Abu Dhabi club’s foreign players. This would also mean that Argentinian Joan Verdu will be leaving the club.