An India international, a former Liverpool target from Georgia and other alternative AGL transfer targets

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • The early success of Kazakhstan skipper Bauyrzhan Islamkhan should send a message to the Arabian Gulf League.

    In just 229 minutes, the playmaker has conjured three assists and earned a deserved place in the running for February’s Player of the Month gong. This stellar return should not be a surprise from someone who trained with Russian Premier League champions Zenit Saint Petersburg in the winter and has been previously linked to Celtic.

    Yet in a division that is fixated on Brazilian imports, 25 of the 56 foreign slots are taken by players born there, plus Caio Canedo and Fabio De Lima recently gained UAE citizenship, this success bucks the norm. Here are some other potential left-of-field targets for the UAE’s finest:

    SAHAL ABDUL SAMAD (INDIA)

    It should just be a matter of time until the AGL welcomes its first India international of the professional era.

    A growing domestic scene, allied with a substantial expatriate population, makes the move a no-brainer. What better place to start than a technically gifted starlet who spent his formative years at New Indian Model School Al Ain?

    Samad, 22, has gone on to excel for Kerala Blasters, gain nine India caps and be named the Indian Super League Emerging Player of the Season for 2018/19.

    Verdict: The refined playmaker is under contract until May 2022, yet a six-figure transfer fee (in euros) would surely do the trick. The upsides, on and off the pitch, should make this incredible value.

    BeFunky-collage (3)

    JANO ANANIDZE (GEORGIA)

    The sizable buzz that surrounded Ananidze’s record-breaking introduction to first-team football has ebbed away – but this doesn’t mean he would not be an astute addition.

    Ananidze was courted by the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the wake of him becoming the Russian Premier League’s youngest-ever scorer, aged just 17, at Spartak Moscow. A ruinous run of serious injuries chipped away at the diminutive technician’s impact and a decade later, he’s part of a Georgian enclave at Cyprus’ Anorthosis Famagusta.

    An ability to flit between attacking midfield and defensive midfield is a bonus. Plus, his sharp one-on-one finish in September versus South Korea showcases an enduring ability to hurt top-level opposition with his pace and accuracy.

    Verdict: Ananidze is still finding his feet at Anorthosis, meaning negotiations to prise away a player contracted until June 2021 shouldn’t be too intense. Hungary winger Balazs Dzsudzsak’s strong showing in the AGL should point towards the worth of such additions from Eastern Europe, especially at a fee pegged about €1 million.

    BeFunky-collage (6)

    YASSINE MERIAH (TUNISIA)

    It’s a quirk of AGL recruitment that the talent-rich North African market remains, largely, untapped by them.

    Inconsistent Al Jazira winger Mourad Batna and Al Dhafra’s ex-Morocco defender Issam El Adoua are the only senior foreigners currently on the books from the region. This should change, with Tunisia centre-back Meriah a fine place to start.

    The 26-year-old was selected for both World Cup 2018 and Africa Cup of Nations 2019, plus is potentially available at season’s end after being sent on loan to Turkey’s Kasimpasa by parent-club Olympiacos. Lauded sides with leaky defences, chief being Al Wahda and Al Ain, would be well advised to inquire about his summer availability.

    Verdict: Meriah cost his Greek employers €1.5m in July 2018. This valuation is unlikely to have grown much in the intervening years, despite the player’s quality. A small outlay would land an experienced international about to enter his prime. That’s some deal.

    BeFunky-collage (4)

    RABIA AL ALAWI (OMAN)

    A goalscoring phenom has emerged in the Gulf.

    Left winger Al Alawi has netted four goals in four World Cup 2022 qualifiers, with his consolation strike against heavyweights Saudi Arabia at the 24th Gulf Cup moving him onto an impressive five goals in eight caps. It has been some impact since the 24-year-old’s brace on debut in September’s 2-1 victory against India.

    Oman and the UAE share a border, yet Al Jazira’s twin acquisitions of Harib Al Saadi and Mohammed Al Musalami in winter 2018 represents one of precious few transfers between them.

    A raid on Dhofar, the 2018/19 Oman Professional League champions, for Al Alawai would be a wise one, at minimal price.

    Verdict: Al Alawi’s record this term merits respect – and interest. His output from out wide against elite Asian opposition should guarantee an ability to perform in the AGL.

    BeFunky-collage (2)

    NELSON BONILLA (EL SALVADOR)

    There might be an opportunity to strike a smart deal for a prolific goal getter ahead this summer.

    A nagging foot injury has kept El Salvador and Bangkok United centre forward sidelined since September. With the contract of the scorer of 41 strikes in 52 Thai League 1 appearances set to run out in the winter, there may be both the temptation from his employers to cash-in and the player to get a richer contract in the Middle East.

    Central Americans have rarely been coveted by AGL outfits. Bonilla’s track record with club and country – 16 in 46 caps – should provide an exception to the norm.

    Verdict: If Bonilla is provided with the opportunity to prove his fitness before the summer market, this would be a cut-price deal worth pursuing. At 29-years old, he’d be able to contribute for several years to come – just look at evergreen Sebastian Tagliabue at Wahda.

    BeFunky-collage (5)

    Recommended