Arabian Gulf League giants Al Ahli have put themselves in pole position to head off numerous challenges for Brazil striker Luiz Adriano after they agreed a fee with Shakhtar Donetsk.
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Adriano, 28, has emerged as one of the most coveted players in Europe since he entered the last six months of his Hirnyky contract. This follows an incredible 2014/15 Champions League campaign in which he scored nine goals in the group stage to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.
Such form has seen fierce competition appear for his signature, Italian trio Roma, Internazionale and AC Milan among those registering interest. But the Red Knights have jumped to the front of this queue after chairman His Excellency Abdullah Saeed al Naboodah tweeted on Wednesday night the four-times-capped Canarinho front man is set for a medical.
He tweeted: “It was agreed with the Shakhtar Donetsk on the transmission to Al Ahli of Luiz Adriano. The details for the financial contract of the player and medical examinations will happen in the coming days, we ask God for success.”
Ahli have been in the hunt for a leading centre forward to replace club legend Grafite since the winter transfer window. They then baulked at the €13 million (Dh 53.5m) fee demanded by Newcastle United for striker Papiss Cisse as four potential moves all broke down, leaving erratic UAE international Ahmed Khalil as their only option up top.
A struggle for goals saw only 35 scored in 26 top-flight matches as their title defence ended in a distant seventh place. Redemption was found in the AFC Champions League, a club-record run to August’s quarter-finals secured.
Interest has been registered in Besiktas’ Demba Ba, the Senegal striker “one of many” targeted by the Dubai side. This search has now honed in on Adriano, who would be a landmark capture if everything can be agreed in the coming days.
He tweeted: “It was agreed with the Shakhtar Donetsk on the transmission to Al Ahli of Luiz Adriano. The details for the financial contract of the player and medical examinations will happen in the coming days, we ask God for success.”