Al Ain face a fight to keep hold of rising Egypt midfielder Hussein El Shahat after Cairo heavyweights Al Ahly confirmed on Saturday night that they had submitted a “formal offer” to acquire his services.

El Shahat, 27, has scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists in 23 Arabian Gulf League games since a wildly successful January move – initially on loan – from Misr lel-Makkasa. Such performances have seen him regularly linked with a return to his homeland at the record 40-times champions, a club he stated in September that he’d “love to play for”.

This wish appeared a step closer at the weekend when Ahly issued a statement that read: “Due to its mandate, the club management department has sent a formal offer to Al Ain to sign Hussein Al Shahat during the winter transfer period. Al Ahly expects to receive a response to the offer.”

The Boss did not make any public pronouncement on the bid, as of Saturday evening. But coach Zoran Mamic was dismissive of any likely move when quizzed in the wake of December 22’s Club World Cup final defeat to Real Madrid.

He said: “I think with all respect to Al Ahly, they don’t have the money to buy El Shahat. It must be something incredible.”

Al Ain paid $3 million to secure El Shahat’s permanent signature in March.

Meanwhile, caretaker Hassan Al Abdouli has called time on his troubled two-month reign at relegation-threatened Al Wasl.

A permanent appointment will follow for the shock strugglers.