Al Ahli agree fee for Brazilian midfielder Everton Ribeiro

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  • A move to the UAE seems imminent with Ribeiro set to sit out of Monday's friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk in Brasilia.

    Al Ahli are close to pulling off the coup of the winter transfer window after agreeing a €10 million fee (Dh41.2m) for Brazil attacking midfielder Everton Ribeiro.

    An outline agreement was first reached with Cruzeiro on Saturday night for the 25-year-old, with wages of €5m (Dh20.6m) on an undetermined length of contract.

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    Official confirmation is yet to come from the Red Knights, who insist “negotiations are ongoing”. The deal is a complicated one, reports in the Brazilian media stating that Ahli’s bid is for 60 per cent of the player’s economic rights.

    Italian giants AC Milan have been linked with Ribeiro, with further competition provided by clubs from China and Ukraine. But a move now seems imminent to the UAE, with the player set to sit out Monday’s friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk in Brasilia.

    If successfully concluded, it would be the second eye-catching arrival for Cosmin Olaroiu’s men this month after bringing in Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi from Premier League outfit Liverpool. Ahli hope the pair will add much-needed creativity and youth to a team that has gone from treble winners to sixth place in the Arabian Gulf League table.

    Ribeiro has made three appearances for the Selecao since being handed his international debut off the substitute’s bench in September’s 1-0 friendly win against Colombia.

    This promotion from head coach Dunga followed on the back of successive Brasileirao title wins for Cruzeiro, in which he was also named the Premio Craque do Brasileirao (Brazilian Player of the Year) for 2013 and 2014.Everton Ribeiro #17 celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Goias in the Brasileirao Series A.

    His increasing stature was reflected last month when he joined Brazil legend Ronaldo’s 9ine sports marketing agency, which counts Barcelona’s Neymar as a client.

    The likely arrival of Ribeiro is sure to spell the end of countryman Grafite’s exemplary period at Ahli after three-and-a-half trophy-laden years at Rashid Stadium. The 35-year-old club captain will make way to create space in the four-player foreign quota, which should include Luis Jimenez, Carlos Munoz and Assaidi.

    Meanwhile, Al Nasr have entered the final stages of negotiations to secure a loan deal until the end of the season with former Spain winger Pablo Hernandez.

    Hernandez, 29, arrived in Dubai during the weekend to undergo a medical.

    Former Spain winger Pablo Hernandez is set to sign for Al Nasr.

    Personal terms have been agreed with the ex-Valencia wide man, though concord with Qataris Al Arabi is yet to be reached.

    The four-times capped player has scored six goals in 13 Qatar Stars League appearances since joining from Swansea in the summer.

    His arrival would spell the end for one of the Blue Waves’ foreign players, who currently include captain Brett Holman, striker Ibrahima Toure, Brazilian midfielder Renan Garcia and Macedonia winger Ivan Trickovski. A decision is believed to be close about who will make way.

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