Al Jazira deny Nasr move for UAE star Khamis Esmail

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Esmail (r) was linked with a move to Nasr.

    Al Jazira have moved quickly to rubbish reports which stated key midfielder Khamis Esmail was about to make a surprise switch to Arabian Gulf League rivals Al Nasr.

    Sharjah Sports posted tweets on Friday night, which were then swiftly deleted, that said the 25-year-old UAE lynchpin was on the verge of a move to Dubai.

    Much like when recent stories from Saudi Arabia suggested a transfer of star forward Ali Mabkhout to Al Hilal was imminent, a club statement was swiftly released denying the claims.

    “Al Jazira categorically denies the reports about the departure of player Khamis Esmail to join Al Nasr,” it read.

    “The company confirms that the player will remain in the ranks of Jazira until the end of his current contract and there are no negotiations for his transfer.

    “We wish to emphasise that the official website of the club, the accounts of Al Jazira Sports on social networking sites and the official spokesman for the company are the only sources of correct news.“

    Meanwhile, Demba Ba looks set to be crossed off Al Ahli’s list of potential striker recruits after Besiktas reportedly agreed a €14 million (Dh 58.4m) fee with Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua.

    Reports in Turkish media stated on Saturday that only the 30-year-old’s consent was now required to complete the switch to the Far East.

    The Red Knights had made enquiries about landing the prolific former Newcastle and Chelsea front man, but this was as far as they progressed, contrary to rumours about a rejected €10m (Dh 41.7m) bid.

    Tangible progress will be made on solving the dethroned champions’ chronic lack of goals when senior club officials, coach Cosmin Olaroiu and his squad reconvene for pre-season training on July 10.

    One forward definitely outside Ahli’s plans is forgotten man Carlos Munoz, who has completed a one-year loan switch back to boyhood club Santiago Wanderers.

    The 26-year-old cost Dh40m plus 2012 UAE Olympic squad member Saeed Suroor last October from Bani Yas, but was mothballed for the second half of the campaign as Everton Riberiro, Oussama Assaidi and Kwon Kyung-won were signed during the winter transfer window.

    Munoz temporarily returns to his native Chile after he scored seven goals in 15 appearances, setting his sights on fighting his way back into the international set-up.

    “Being in Chile, surely I can open the door to a recall for the Chilean national team,” the 26-year-old told CDF. “I think in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, I can be included.”

    Recommended