Al Ahly's Winter Gambit: Four Key Moves to Reclaim Africa's Crown

Contract Renewals

Said Abdel Hafeez, a member of the clubs board, will hold a session with Aliou Diengs agent in the coming hours to finalize the renewal as his contract runs out at the end of the current season.

An Al Ahly source told Kooora that the club will present a new offer to keep Dieng, with an annual salary of 1.3 million dollars.

Walid Salah Eldin, the football director, will also meet Hussein Shahat, Ahmed Abdel Qader, and Ahmed Abdeen next Thursday to decide renewals for the trio.

Winter Signings

Mahmoud Al-Khatib, the club president and head of football oversight, will return to Cairo within hours after a private holiday in Hurghada.

He will meet with Said Abdel Hafeez to finalize the winter signings for the Red Army.

The technical staff has identified needs: a strong striker, a midfielder, a left back, and a central defender.

Al Ahly has reportedly considered Youssef Bel Amri, the left back of Raja Casablanca, alongside Congolese Afimiko Bololo, a striker of Jagielonia Bielystok, as targets.

Departing Players

Said Abdel Hafeez aims to settle the departure of players in January based on a report from coach Yies Tourob.

There is a consensus on parting ways with Moroccan defender Ashraf Dari, with attempts to market him in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.

There is also consideration to loan Gradyshar or sell him permanently if a suitable bid arrives.

There is a Libyan club showing interest in Afsha, but nothing has been decided yet.

The club is also studying Ahmed Ridas status, whether to loan him out or keep him.

Loaned Players Evaluation

Said Abdel Hafeez, deputy supervisor for football, will assess players on loan at other clubs to decide whether to bring them back or sell them.

The discussion centers on Rida Slim, who is excelling with the Royal Army of Morocco, and Ahmed Khaled Kabaka, a midfielder loaned to Zed.

Said Abdel Hafeez believes coach Yies Tourob can develop Kabakas potential, as he has not been a regular starter at Zed in recent spells.

Punchline 1: If January transfers were a math problem, Al Ahly would already have solved it and still have space for a coffee break.

Punchline 2: The transfer window is open, the budget is ready, and the squad is hopeful that patience is a form of parking pass for the players. Be ready for drama, but expect results.