Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain have made a low-key first splash in the summer transfer market with the captures of Sharjah’s Jamal Maroof and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club’s Saad Khamis, marking a stark contrast in standing to departing superstar playmaker Omar Abdulrahman.

The Boss were the only side in the expanded, 14-team competition not to arrange any major incomings. But this situation changed on Tuesday night as coach Zoran Mamic was handed some bench options for the imminent defence of the top flight and President’s Cup.

Maroof, 26, fell out of the favour at Sharjah last term and went goalless in seven AGL matches. Despite this underwhelming state of affairs, he inked a two-year deal.

Fellow forward Khamis, 23, also failed to score in six top-flight games when on loan at bottom-placed Hatta. The son of UAE and Al Wasl legend Fahad Khamis has signed up for a three-year stay at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Al Ain’s attacking options were depleted by June’s return of 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil to Shabab Al Ahli. The 27-year-old had inked a short-term contract with them last winter after a troubled stint at Al Jazira.

Inexperienced centre forward Yousef Ahmed, 24, also moved to rivals Wasl at the same time.

This exacerbated a problem caused by the loss of UAE reserve striker Saeed Al Kathiri, 30, to Al Dhafra in summer 2017.

Veteran forward Ibrahim Diaky, 36, was one of few remaining alternatives to 36-goal Sweden centre forward Marcus Berg.