Al Wasl are interested in taking Al Ahli star Hugo Viana on a one-year loan.
The Portuguese midfielder was a key figure in the Red Knights’ charge to the treble last season but has been cast aside following the arrival of Cosmin Olaroiu favourite Mirel Radoi from Al Ain
Wasl are the only AGL club yet to complete their foreign player quota and could offer the 31-year-old an escape route from their Dubai rivals.
Viana, who earned 29 caps for Portugal, has already rejected two offers from Spanish La Liga teams as his family have settled quickly in the UAE since his free transfer from Braga in June 2013.
The former Sporting Lisbon, Newcastle and Valencia man is keen to accept a temporary deal if an official offer is made to Ahli, and the two parties come to an agreement about how his wages will be paid.
Wasl are considering their options and expect to make a decision in the next few days.
The summer transfer window closed last week in Europe’s major leagues, making an AGL stay one of the few viable options for Viana if he is to play first-team football, as the window remains open in the Emirates until October 2.
Ahli currently boast six foreign players in their squad, with domestic rules stating only three non- Emiratis and one Asian player can be registered.
Radoi and captain Grafite are certainties to take up two of the spots, with Brazilian forward Ciel the favourite to take the third.
Ahli have decided that Chilean playmaker Luis Jimenez will continue in the Asian place earned by his Palestinian passport, meaning that Iraqi attacking midfielder Humam Tariq has also been left out in the cold.
The 18-year-old’s agent, Najim Abed Mohamad, has claimed this scenario could see the player leave amid interest from two Italian Serie A clubs and one Czech Synot Liga team. His contract was not registered with the UAE Football Association and he is considered a free agent under FIFA rules.
Mohamad said: “Tariq remains at Ahli on a good contract, which he appreciates, but he wants to play and he will not be able to do this with them until the opening of the winter transfer window at least.
“Tariq has flown out to Korea for the Asian Games with Iraq today. He is a big star in his country, meaning he has little interest in taking a one-week trial with Celtic or similar offers.
“If he is to leave Ahli, it will be on a permanent basis. We were told by the Italian and Czech sides to wait until they could concentrate on him once their summer transfer window had closed.”