The majority of Arabian Gulf League clubs may still be on their holidays, but Al Ain and Al Jazira have already provided champions Al Ahli with some serious food for thought.
Following a season that flattered to deceive Jazira have acted quickly and decisively to ensure that their title challenge will be maintained.
Walter Zenga was ditched in favour of Eric Gerets, while after a dismal four months Felipe Caicedo has been told to look for new employers – swift decisions that outline the club’s desire to add to their solitary league title.
To that you can now add the double capture of Mirko Vucinic and Jonathan Pitroipa, one of the most exciting swoops in UAE football history.
Yet, while Vucinic and his reported €5 million (Dh25m) a season wages will attract most of the column inches, it is his new team-mate from Burkina Faso that should provide the greater value for money.
Pitroipa has the pace and skill to worry any defence, while at 28 he still has something to prove – especially following a disappointing season with Rennes.
Another player with his peak years in front of him is Miroslav Stoch, and the Al Ain loan signing too could emerge as an extremely shrewd signing.
The Boss have been crying out for width and pace for a while now, and although something has obviously gone wrong for Stoch in Turkey, that conversely makes him exactly the sort of player that a side with amibition in the UAE should be signing. He has bucket loads of ability but also a reason to put in 100 per cent on the pitch.
He may not stay in the Middle East long term, but the only way he is going to get back to Europe is by playing well. That has to be better than signing a 30-something whose only concern is his bank balance.
Having already bought Lee Myung- joo – and with another signing on the way – Al Ain have shown their desire to succeed at home and abroad.
Ahli’s chances of keeping them at bay will depend heavily on how they react to this game of chance in the transfer market.
