Luis Jimenez and Nilmar set for Al Nasr exits

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  • In happier times: Luis Jimenez (c).

    Playmaker Luis Jimenez and striker Nilmar are set to be the victims as Al Nasr shake up their foreign selection in a bid to continue their record 2016 AFC Champions League run and reach for domestic success.

    This desire has seen both the 31-year-olds be told they are surplus to requirements after just one season at Al Maktoum Stadium.

    The futures of wingers Jires Kembo Ekoko, 28, and Jonathan Pitroipa, 30, however are more secure at this moment within the four-player non-Emirati quota.

    The Blue Wave have drawn Qatar’s El Jaish in the quarterfinals of the ACL and hope to advance further after making their knockout-stage bow.

    They also want to improve upon last term’s disappointing fourth-placed finish in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL). At the top of list of centre forward buys is Sharjah’s Wanderley, with Makhete Diop – a long-term favourite of coach Ivan Jovanovic – tied into at least another season at Al Dhafra.

    Wanderley, 27, has scored an impressive 32 goals in 51 AGL games since his arrival in summer 2014 from Qatar’s Al Arabi.

    His agent Adriano Spadoto fueled rumours about a switch to Nasr last week, by tweeting: “We want to thank Sharjah Club for the last two wonderful seasons, but now it’s time to accept new challenges.”

    An Asian-qualified defensive midfielder was originally sought by the Blue Wave to replace Palestinian passport holder Jimenez, although a recent request from Jovanovic has seen a like-for-like, attacking replacement pursued.

    The previous hunt saw enquiries made to Bani Yas about Mark Milligan and Crystal Palace for his Australia colleague Mile Jedinak. The Socceroos skipper has requested a €3 million (Dh12.4m) annual wage, with a transfer fee also required.

    Nilmar cut a frustrating figure for the Blue Wave after he was bought from Internacional in August 2015. Only 11 goals were scored in 26 top-flight games, with the team’s struggle to find the back of the net severely hampering hopes of mounting an assault on the title.

    A return to the Brazilian club which sold him is likely in the coming weeks.

    For Jimenez, a deal between Nasr and Al Arabi has been agreed. It is not known whether the ex-Al Ahli star has concurred to the move, which would end a five-year stay in the Emirates.

    The Chile international travelled back to his native country yesterday and admitted a desire in May to play professionally there for the first time after spells in Italy, England and the UAE.

    Another player set to exit the Maktoum is unwanted centre-back Ali Al Ameri, who has been lined up by Bani Yas.

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