Dubai: Hassan Shehata’s resignation from Egyptian club Zamalek has not changed Mahmoud Abdul Razzaq Shikabala’s mind on a move to Al Wasl, according to club sources.
Shikabala, 26, had been benched by the club with coach Shehata refusing to pick the midfielder following a touchline bust-up in May. But, after the coach’s departure last Friday, many tipped the player to stay at the Cairo club.
Already subject to a failed €800,000 (Dh3.6 million) bid last week, Al Wasl have reportedly upped their offer to €1.5 million for a season on loan.
“There’s no confirmation as yet, negotiations are still ongoing but the club remain extremely interested, as does the player,” said a club source. “There’s no indication Shehata’s resignation has changed things.”
Elsewhere, Bani Yas club’s negotiations with another Egyptian, striker Mohammad Zidan, 30, are apparently on the verge of collapse. Zidan reportedly refused to continue on loan at German club Mainz 05 from Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season without a two-year deal. This same sticking point has also caught Bani Yas unawares in their bid to sign the player for a year.
If the situation can be resolved, Zidan will join retained players Andre Senghor and Fawzi Basheer at Al Shamkha, with Francisco Yeste released and unconfirmed reports Moroccan defender Esmail Belmaalem has joined the club on loan from Raja Casablanca.
Meanwhile, Mousa Narry, a 26-year-old Nigerian-Ghanaian striker has confirmed his switch to Sharjah from Tunisia’s US Monastir. He joins retained Brazilians Edinho and Marcelinho at the club as coach Faouzi Benzarti now looks for an Asian to fill his foreign players quota.
