Dethroned Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli have started the process of shaking up their faltering side by entering negotiations with Portugal and Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Danny about a two-year contract.
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The 31-year-old has been a standout performer since joining from Dynamo Moscow €30 million (Dh118.2m) in 2008, wearing the captain’s armband with distinction in recent seasons.
An outstanding spell in Russia’s second city is set to come to an end on June 30 when his current deal expires, leading to an opportunity for interested clubs to start talks with him and his representatives about a free transfer.
Zenit have been unable to agree an extension thus far, reports in Russia stating they are looking to cut their wage bill to fit UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
This has provided the Red Knights with a chance to strike, confidence growing they can head off European interest and successfully conclude talks in the near future on a marquee signing to inject quality into a side who have slumped from treble holders during 2013-14 to 6th place in the AGL.
Ahli are in the market for a fresh attacking midfielder as skipper Luis Jimenez is likely to leave when his four-year agreement runs out this summer.
With the pursuit of a dominant centre forward also high on the Dubai-outfit’s list of priorities, one of their non-Asian winter signings Everton Ribeiro and Oussama Assaidi could be at risk to ensure the four-player foreign quota is met.
Danny has the pedigree to prove an inspired acquisition, the Venezuela-born schemer scoring 43 goals in 133 top-flight appearances for Zenit.
During this time, he has won two Russian Premier League titles, a Russian Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and a single Russian Super Cup.
The Maritimo youth product has remained a key performer under countryman Andre Villas-Boas this term, registering seven assists and three goals during 22 matches for the runaway top-flight leaders.
The enduring quality of Danny’s displays have seen him score four goals in 31 internationals for A Seleccao. He started their last Euro 2016 qualifier against Serbia on March 29, being substituted on 85 minutes during the important 2-1 victory.
Ahli have dealt in the Portuguese market recently, to mixed results. Winger Ricardo Quaresma endured a miserable spell in 2012-13, scoring twice in 10 AGL appearances before being released on a free transfer.
In contrast, centre midfielder Hugo Viana – now at Al Wasl – was the heartbeat behind last season’s top flight, Arabian Gulf Cup and Arabian Gulf Super Cup successes after joining from Braga in summer 2013.
Experienced former Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas coach Carlos Carvalhal is also in charge of the club’s youth set-up in his position as academy technical director.
