President’s Cup holders Al Jazira expect to complete the signing of Al Ain right-back Mohammed Fawzi once his commitments in the UAE’s summer training camp are over.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi have begun the process of significantly bolstering a squad which struggled to seventh in the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League. The centre point of their early moves is a double deal with the Boss.
Veteran midfielder Ibrahim Diaky, 34, has already agreed a return to Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and has been involved in pre-season training, despite the lack of official confirmation. A transfer for his team-mate, Fawzi, has been complicated by the Whites’ month-long trip to Spain, which winds up on August 10.
It is hoped everything will be signed off once that spell ends, with Fawzi, 26, putting pen to paper in Abu Dhabi before probably meeting up with his new colleagues once they return from a preparatory spell in the Netherlands.
Jazira have already secured the transfers of box-to-box Fujairah midfielder Humaid Ahmed, 28, and 30-year-old Al Wasl midfielder Salem Abdulla. They have also brought two-time former coach Jan Versleijen back into the fold as an assistant to fellow Dutchman Henk ten Cate.
They will play a number of friendlies in Europe, which will represent a chance for the foreign stars to prove their worth. Peru forward Jefferson Farfan and Montenegro marksman Mirko Vucinic will be particularly under the spotlight after lengthy injuries last term.
Spanish playmaker Angel Lafita is unlikely to comprise part of next term’s four-man foreign quota no matter how he performs, with Brazil attacking midfielder Thiago Neves also at risk in spite of his strong end to the season. South Korea anchorman Park Jong-woo is currently undergoing national service and will be available shortly.
A transfer for Fawzi will go a long way to improving a defence which was the third worst in the top flight last term, with 50 goals conceded from 26 games. It would also provide the ex-Al Ahli and Bani Yas performer with regular first-team football after he started just three more times in the AGL after February 18’s 2-1 home loss against Al Shabab.
