Al Shabab centre forward Edgar Bruno is on a final list of “two to three” players which no longer features Celta Vigo’s Joaquin Larrivey as Al Wasl look to complete their foreign business.
The Cheetahs have one place left to fill in their four-man quota after they re-signed centre midfielder Hugo Viana and forward Caio Canedo, while fellow attacker Fabio De Lima is set to undertake the second of a two-season loan.
A space was opened up from the squad which attained a creditable sixth-placed 2014/15 AGL finish after a permanent deal could not be agreed for Ederson Alves with the Brazilian heading to Kashiwa Reysol of the J-League instead.
Gabriel Calderson’s side are eager to bring in a replacement immediately, mindful of both today’s departure for a training camp in the Netherlands and an incredibly-demanding start to the new campaign from August 20-22.
This process has become focused this week and Edgar is an option to make the cross-Dubai switch.
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The Brazilian became unwanted after a return of only eight top-flight goals last term saw the high-flying Hawks upgrade with internationally-capped countryman Jo.
“Edgar is a player we both know and like, he is one of the two to three players we are looking to sign,” team manager Majed Obaidallah said. “But I must insist, nothing is completed with any player.”
Sources close to the tall target man expect a decision to be made in the next 48 hours, rival interest also being registered by Emirates Club.
Edgar has one year to run on his Shabab contract but a player no longer in Wasl’s thoughts is Argentinian Larrivey.
The striker – who scored 11 La Liga goals in 35 appearances last season – has travelled to Dubai to complete a deal after a switch to Premier League-outfit Norwich collapsed, his agent Daniel dos Reis told Faro de Vigo newspaper.
Obaidallah revealed “budgetary constraints” saw the Cheetahs drop their interest in the 30-year-old. Officials from Al Nasr also distanced themselves from Larrivey, while no one from Al Ahli was available to comment.