With four rounds gone in the 2018/19 Arabian Gulf League, the worth of the summer business conducted by the 14 entrants is starting to be shown.
We’ve reviewed which sides will be looking ahead to a glorious season and who will be contemplating more business ahead of October 2’s deadline.
JAIME AYOVI (SHABAB AL AHLI DUBAI CLUB)
It was a brave call by Shabab Al Ahli to conduct a swap deal with Beijing Renhe which sent the prolific Senegalese striker Makhete Diop to China and gained Ecuador’s Ayovi in return.
The new centre forward has, instead, provided a beacon of light in a grim start. Four goals in four games have followed.
PEDRO CONDE (BANI YAS)
The First Division League-champions cast the net far and wide to ensure they avoided an instant relegation.
In Spanish forward Conde, they appear to have mined a gem. The ex-PAS Giannina man terrorised capital rivals Al Wahda last weekend, scoring twice to showcase startling promise.
IGOR CORONADO (SHARJAH)
Few invested more than Sharjah in the €6 million (Dh25.6m) playmaker from Italy’s Palermo.
Thus far, the return has been phenomenal. The Brazilian has been key to the King’s best beginning of the professional era, tallying five goals and three assists.
His dismantling of Al Nasr was utterly incredible.
LEONARDO (AL WAHDA)
Al Wahda needed an edge to turn last season’s runners-up placing into a genuine title challenge.
In Al Ahli Jeddah creator Leonardo, they appear to have procured such a player. A trio of assists and goals have followed, a particular high point his display versus Al Wasl.
Balazs Dzsudzsak isn’t being missed.
RYAN MENDES (SHARJAH)
An electrifying element has been added to the Sharjah attack.
Mendes has gelled perfectly with Coronado and resident Brazilian striker Welliton, netting four times and assisting one more.
This is in contrast to a previous spell at Turkey’s Kayserispor, featuring eight goals in 46 matches.
