Al Nasr midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Al Wasl star Khamis Esmail head top-five AGL summer buys

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  • Yohan Cabaye with Al Nasr (Twitter/@ALNasrSC).

    With less than a month to go until the start of the season, Arabian Gulf League clubs have been busy sculpting squads to experience a successful 2018/19.

    Reigning champions Al Ain are yet to bring in any senior recruits, but this is not the case throughout the rest of the division. Money has been spent on targets that will either gain a better tilt at the title, earn mid-table security or ensure a successful battle against the drop.

    The top flight kicks off on August 30, plus the summer transfer window closes on October 2. Here are the recruits that have most impressed us, thus far.

    KHAMIS ESMAIL

    (Twitter/@AlWaslSC).

    (Twitter/@AlWaslSC).

    It will take some doing for a rival to better Al Wasl’s snapping up of the experienced UAE anchor man.

    Esmail was procured for a figure approaching Dh50 million in January 2016. But Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club decided he was expendable amid the chase for Al Dhafra’s Abdullah Al Naqbi.

    At 28-years old, Wasl are getting a refined midfielder capable of providing expert guidance to a developing side that is eager to better last term’s third-placed finish.

    YOHAN CABAYE

    (Twitter/@ALNasrSC).

    (Twitter/@ALNasrSC).

    A Premier League stalwart will be gracing the AGL’s pitches during 2018/19.

    Al Nasr pulled off a great shock when they convinced 48-times-capped France midfielder Yohan Cabaye to end his three-year stay at Crystal Palace and move onto Al Maktoum Stadium.

    Cabaye, 32, offers expert playmaking, a ferocious ability from dead balls and a tenacious side that will see no ground given in the middle of the park. This is a figure for whom coach Ivan Jovanovic can build his entire system around.

    IGOR CORONADO

    (Twitter/@SharjahFC).

    (Twitter/@SharjahFC).

    Sharjah lavished a significant €6 million (Dh25.5m) fee on the Brazilian playmaker, who made a strong impression during Palermo’s promotion back to Serie A.

    Coronado, 25, has been hired to add an injection of creativity into a King side that scored only 26 times in 22 top-flight matches last term. Countryman Lulinha singularly failed at this task.

    If he can better last term’s Serie B tally of 10 assists and nine goals from 38 matches, Sharjah will feel content about their substantial investment.

    LEROY GEORGE

    (Twitter/@BaniyasClub).

    (Twitter/@BaniyasClub).

    The ex-Netherlands Under-21 international has chosen to swap fighting for A-League glory with Melbourne Victory to scrapping against relegation with Bani.

    There was plenty of regret in Australia’s second city when a contract extension could not be agreed with a winger who’d come from nowhere to notch 13 assists and eights goals in a championship season.

    The 31-year-old’s talents will need to be on display in Abu Dhabi as the Sky Blues bid to avoid immediate relegation back to First Division League.

    MAURO DIAZ

    (Twitter/@alahlicclub).

    (Twitter/@alahlicclub).

    Great strides have been taken by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club to avoid the goal shortage that crippled their inaugural campaign.

    Central to this drive is the purchase of diminutive playmaker Diaz from FC Dallas. The former Argentina Under-20 international excelled during five years in Major League Soccer, being named in 2016’s Best XI.

    In total, the 27-year-old heads to Rashid Stadium with a record of 23 goals and 44 assists in 84 matches. Great things are expected.

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