The imminent capture of Al Ain forward Jires Kembo Ekoko is set to herald a series of changes at Al Nasr they believe will put them in position to mount an Arabian Gulf League title push.

Kembo Ekoko, 28, has passed a medical and agreed a two-year contract after an undisclosed fee – believed to be worth Dh6.1m – was agreed between the sides.

The former France Under-21 international has been in Dubai since the end of last week, with only the final details left to be agreed before the transfer can be officially announced as soon as Monday. 

The move will see Brazilian utility player Renan Garcia lose his place in the four-man foreign quota and force the Blue Wave into the local market to improve their defensive options. Talks are already under way with Al Shabab for highly-rated UAE holding midfielder Hassan Ibrahim and another unnamed player.

Coach Ivan Jovanovic has urged the club’s technical department to improve the team at both ends of the pitch, this ambition only stiffened by Saturday’s chastening 4-2 Arabian Gulf Super Cup loss to top-flight champions Al Ain. The transfer for Kembo Ekoko will be a disappointment for Bani Yas, who had agreed personal terms and a transfer fee earlier this month, but the player prioritised a switch to Dubai.

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The deal ends a rollercoaster three-year spell in the Garden City for Kembo Ekoko. The Kinshasa-born star played a key role in the 2012/13 AGL title win, before the purchase of Brazil international Michel Bastos saw him packed off on loan to Qatar’s El Jaish for the following season.

He was recalled last summer, registering 11 goals and seven assists in 21 games as his parent club reclaimed the league crown. But the Boss had no intention of renewing a contract which had one year to run and bought Netherlands winger Ryan Babel as his replacement last month.

Ibrahim, 24, will be a tougher, more expensive deal to complete, with the Hawks demanding a large fee for an ever-improving player who was part of the Whites’ Asian Cup-squad in January.