Al Wahda have registered their interest in Jorge Valdivia as they weigh up a move to bring the Chile playmaker back to the Arabian Gulf League.
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Valdivia, 31, won the 2008/09 President’s Cup and gained legendary status in two outstanding seasons with Al Ain. He returned to South America in 2010 with Brazilian giants Palmeiras, for whom his contract expires in August.
His status as a potential free agent has alerted clubs throughout the region with the Clarets at the front of this push. Reports in the Arabic media stated Wahda were close to a deal for Valdivia – a target for Fujairah last summer – but this is wide of the mark.
No decision on his future will be made, at the earliest, until his duties with the Copa America hosts are over. The Abu Dhabi-outfit are yet to finalise the financial terms on offer or length of contract to put to his advisors.
Wahda appointed former Atletico Madrid boss Javier Aguirre as head coach earlier this month and signed former Arsenal midfielder Denilson.
Meanwhile, reports in Brazil have suggested Al Jazira made a giant €17 million (Dh69.8m) bid last week for the Santos attacking midfielder Lucas Lima.
Lima, 24, has excelled with Peixe since he joined from Internacional two years ago. His form is reported to have piqued the interest of both the Pride of Abu Dhabi and Portuguese side Porto, according to newspaper Diario de S. Paulo.
A move for Lima would cast further doubt on Al Jazira’s chances of landing winger Gervinho from Roma. A deal for the 28-year-old Ivory Coast star looked to be as good as sealed but Jazira and the Giallorossi are still thrashing out a potential €13 million (Dh53.5m) transfer.
