Al Ahli made enquiry for Bafetimbi Gomis, confirms Swansea coach

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  • Gomis staying in Wales for the time being.

    Swansea City have confirmed they rejected an approach from Al Ahli to sign powerful France striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

    The dethroned Arabian Gulf League champions had identified the 29-year-old as a possible solution to their chronic problems up front, just 35 goals being scored as they slumped to seventh last term. 

    A number of front men were approached throughout the summer, the Red Knights finally settling on Benfica’s Lima on Friday after a reported  €7 million (Dh28.2m) fee was agreed just ahead of the registration deadline for the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

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    When asked whether Gomis could have donned the Ahli jersey next term, Swansea boss Garry Monk confirmed the approach, but said he never had any intention of losing the former Lyon star.

    “That club [Ahli] made contact with the us and made an enquiry,” he said. “That’s no problem. 

    “But Bafe is a Swansea City player. We are looking forward to working with him and hopefully have a productive season.”

    Cosmin Olaroiu’s men were reported to have dropped their interest after learning a £7m (Dh39.9m) release clause in Gomis’ deal was not enforceable, although a contract offer of €3m (Dh12m) per year was of serious interest to the player.

    “The wording is what matters — it doesn’t mean you have to release the player — and I’m pretty sure with our chairman it would favour the club,” Monk said.

    Before Cosmin Olaroiu’s men settled on Lima, they saw Luiz Adriano favour a move to AC Milan ahead of them after a fee was agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk and registered interest in Galatasaray target man Burak Yilmaz among many others.

    Their attention further switched yesterday to enrolling players for the upcoming continental clash with Naft Tehran, the first leg being played in Iran on August 26. 

    Brazil’s Everton Ribeiro and South Korean defensive midfielder Kwon Kyung-won had already been assured spots in the four-player foreign quota, Brazilian forward Ciel and Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi left competing to join Lima.

    Official confirmation from Ahli about who received the final place  has yet to arrive. 

    Ciel started last night’s 2-0 friendly win against Internazionale Under-20s in Italy, but Assaidi scored both goals.

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