Al Jazira’s reported pursuit of Belgium centre midfielder Steven Defour appears at an end after Anderlecht announced on Friday night they had agreed a deal with Burnley.
Defour, 28, has been repeatedly linked with the Pride of Abu Dhabi during the past week.
Het Laatste Nieuws stated on Friday morning that the 46-times-capped international wanted to join them rather than the promoted Premier League outfit, but a demand to pay the €7 million (Dh28.7m) fee in one instalment had put the transfer in peril.
This pursuit now seems over, with the Jupiler Pro League runners-up tweeting: “Anderlecht and Burnley have reached an agreement on the definitive transfer of Steven Defour. Good luck.”
The development could be a positive one for Jefferson Farfan’s hopes of being retained in the President’s Cup holder’s four-player foreign quota for 2016/17.
Lethal Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic and South Korea centre midfielder Park Jong-woo are expected to be retained, with the €6m (Dh24.2m) buy from Bundesliga giants Schalke now looking more likely to join them under coach Henk ten Cate’s direction.
Burnley have reached an agreement with Anderlecht for Belgian midfielder Steven Defour. #twitterclarets #anderlecht
— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) August 12, 2016
The Peru forward has been in sensational form during pre-season, despite being told last month along with Brazil playmaker Thiago Neves and Spanish attacking midfielder Angel Lafita that he is up for sale.
Morocco playmaker Mbark Boussoufa’s subsequent recruitment on a free transfer after his contract expired at Lokomotiv Moscow had also provided another blow to the player who scored twice in nine Arabian Gulf League games before a serious ankle injury ended his debut campaign last November.
Jazira have been busy in the domestic market as they look to dramatically improve on last term’s seventh-placed finish in Ten Cate’s first full season in charge.
UAE right back Mohammed Fawzi has been bought from Al Ain, while centre midfielders Salem Abdulla and Humaid Ahmed have arrived from Al Wasl and Fujairah.
