Al Nasr are targeting the recruitment of an Asian-qualified attacking midfielder as they look to regroup now they have decided not to formally appeal the rejection of Wanderley’s Indonesian passport.

The Blue Wave’s promising season descended into chaos after the documentation held by the Brazil-born striker was declared “forged or falsified”. The AFC provisionally banned the summer buy from Sharjah for 60 days on September 2 and later declared the triumphant first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Qatar’s El Jaish in which he scored twice on debut a forfeit, leading to their eventual elimination.

The Dubai-outfit had promised to contest the governing body’s ruling after the heated second leg on September 14, but declined to officially pursue it prior to the 10-day period to formally submit an appeal expiring last week.

Attention has now turned to recalibrating their four-man foreign quota, in which one spot has to be taken up by a player with certified links to this continent. A lengthy shortlist of targets has been drawn up, with an initial emphasis placed on exploring the Australian market.

This strategic decision will directly impact the future of either Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa or ex-France Under-21 forward Jires Kembo Ekoko. One of the pair will make way to open up a position.

Ivan Jovanovic’s men are not expecting Wanderley to be subjected to further stringent punishments, meaning they want to reintroduce him to lead the line for 2016/17. The club have been operating with just three non-Emiratis since the bulldozing target man’s solitary – and precipitous – appearance during the 3-0 thrashing in Doha.

They also have every intention to continue with fellow recent recruit Abdelaziz Barrada. The Morocco playmaker – who was purchased from Marseille after a frustrating two-year spell following his sale by Al Jazira – particularly excelled during their opening Arabian Gulf League-victory at Al Dhafra.

Both Kembo Ekoko and Pitroipa are experiencing their second season at Al Maktoum Stadium.

Kembo Ekoko has 10 goals and five assists in the top flight since he was bought from Al Ain, while Pitroipa’s rescue from the sidelines at Jazira has seen seven strikes notched and six others set-up.